The same is true for washers and dryers. We still have the same Maytag w&d we bought 31 years when we moved to our first house. They have nothing but dials and buttons and have only need minor wear-related parts replaced since new. In the same period, my brother has gone through at least four sets of digital, electronic, high tech washers and dryers. Same for our dishwasher - no repairs on the knob and button one for the 21 years we had it, but our "new" electronic one we got when remodeling has needed two expensive repairs so far in 8 years.

The fancy stuff won't make anyone a better cook, but it satisfies the folks who want in on the latest trends, and it makes more profit for the manufacturers and repair folks. I hope it works out for you.

Induction is high tech. You might be a luddite if you only wanted gas...

I liked the bluestar rnb range because it had a lot less in the way of electronics. If you really have to, you can start it with a lighter. The ovens use knobs and allow you to calibrate the knob to the temp if it is off.

That’s a good point. I guess it’s more that we want to put our budget into the technology that has substantial value v. that which is there for the cool factor. So we’re totally on board with induction, and with Combi steam ovens, but aren’t so sure about full-color LCDs and preset cooking programs. Also, working in tech my husband has a good sense of the failure rate and planned obsolescence that some of those flashy detail add, and we’re wary of getting it in appliances we plan to have a lot longer than we’ll have our current iPhones.

I don't think you are a Luddite at all. I think tech families are probably more wary of superfluous semiconductors than non-techs families.

I am not a fan of Miele's self-cooking ovens. I opted for a Bosch family (Gagg) oven specifically because of that issue. Honestly I can't see the appeal to the pre-programmed settings for recipes.

With respect to the knobs, I would urge you to consider Bosch or Miele's cooktop offerings since they have a longer track record in that arena (I say this as a big Blue Star range fan.) OTOH maybe Blue Star buys its induction tech from someone else anyway.

Most people here report getting used to the digital interface on the cooktops easily.

DH and I are both engineers and we also prefer knobs to touch controls. We also both like to cook. First and foremost, performance in an appliance and then ease and intuitiveness of use. Sure is easier turning a knob when you're wearing oven mitts than trying to get a touch pad/screen to respond.

Thanks, all! You've confirmed that we're not crazy in our thinking. I think we'll do with either the Bosch oven/combi-steam (if they come out with their bigger cavity version for the US market in the next year or so - so frustrating that it's available elsewhere but not here), or the Miele DirectSelect (aka knob) oven and Combi-Steam oven (which will be the fancy programmed cooking, but such is life). We thought about Bertazzoni, but the quality just doesn't seem to be as good.

I'm also hoping there will be more info and practical reviews of the BlueStar out before we have to actually purchase (probably in about a year), and I suspect it will come down to that or the Bosch. We'll see.

I do use my program modes on my miele CSO. I find it very useful for timings such as how long to steam brocoli/potatoes/peas/spinach etc. Once you find the right amount time/“doneness” save it to favorites and you are good for the next time. I also find it useful for skinning tomatoes/blanching/etc. It saves me time to look up in my user manual how long to steam for as you need to account for the “warm up” time. The programs for Rice/Pasta/Risotto work well too. Of my 3 M touch ovens - I use the programs the most in my CSO.

Kristin - Thermador is due to have the larger CSO out this fall, I believe. Not sure if Bosch will be before or after. http://www.thermador.com/collections then select Professional Collection, click through the photos in that section, I think it's the second from the right (they are showing the Masterpiece trim, but in the other Gallery you can see either a CSO or built in micro that has the Professional knob style). Note the side-swing convection ovens with knobs coming at that time as well ;-)

Thanks, Michelle. I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for those. The appliance store staff mentioned that they new a redesigned Thermador was coming, but didn't know a lot of details. That said, it looks like Thermador's prices are comparable to Miele's, and while I like the Thermador look better, I'm not sure how they compare quality-wise.

"Luddite" sounds like a brand name.

I like knobs too! And simple things (why I like my Honda!).

""Luddite" sounds like a brand name."

I love it! I'll have to keep it in mind for my (imaginary) future business plans. Like my idea for a bakery called "For The Love of Gluten".

I'm with you in regards to ovens which is why I went with the more basic Bosch 500 oven with the knobs. I had the Bosch 800 oven in my condo and found I never used all those preprogrammed cooking things.

However, I'm definitely going with the Bosch 800 induction cooktop because of all the levels and also because every hob has separate timers. No knobs but I didn't find it a problem with my Bosch electric cooktop in my last place, and I doubt I'll find no knobs a problem with my Bosch induction cooktop

I have a kitchen timer. It costs 15 dollars. It counts up, it counts down. I can change the battery. I prefer a knob. Digital is just one more thing to go wrong. I'd like to think people are rebelling about this. Too bad manufacturer's aren't listening. All we ask for is functionality and dependability.

I ditched the fancy washer dryer with all of the modes for a simple set of analog Speed Queen.

Maybe there should be a brand called Luddite. I'd buy it.

We also went with the bosch 500 instead of 800 because of the knobs.

Knobs are much faster to set than digital push buttons. There is also better tactile response. Knobs are especially good on devices like radios where you are trying to scan through stations or set a volume.

You would think the usability people would have this figured out.

I kind of miss knobs on radios, too. When my daughter was a baby and would cry in the car, white noise between am stations on the radio would often calm her down, and when she fell asleep it would help keep her asleep. But then I got a car with digital tuning that refused to stop on the white noise, as it would only stop on intelligible stations. So frustrating.

This may seem OT but it does relate to the general agreement here about preferring knobs, so bear with me:

I was buying a new SUV last year so I spent months researching details. One of the things that irritated me about my 2010 Ford was the multiple rows of absolutely identical dashboard buttons. Everything was the same size and shape; you had to take your eyes off the road and actually look down at the buttons to be sure you were pressing the right one.

When I started doing research on new cars, many reviews (professional and consumer) expressed dissatisfaction with some of the whizz-bang high-tech electronic displays used by some mfgs. Most complaints were about "slow to respond", but not a few of them said things like "you have to search through menus in order to adjust the interior temperature or the radio volume!"

Okay, this is a problem....I am constantly adjusting the temperature in my cars. My spouse likes it warm and I like it cool, especially when the sun is shining down on my side. Plus, if a song comes on that I don't like, I like to whip the volume down to zero. No way can I fumble through menus while I'm driving, LOL.

Thus warned, we went out to test-drive some cars.

I test drove the SUV I eventually bought, and noticed immediately: the center console had less than half the number of buttons on my 2010 Ford. And they weren't just buttons, either: it was a well-designed combo of bars, with a few stacked buttons, on either side of a BIG ROUND KNOB.

Gasp...how old fashioned of this mfg! Press in the center to turn the radio on or off! Turn the outside rim to control the volume!

Retro paradise!!

Mind you, the car has voice control for most dash functions. But we've owned it for a year now, and I still smile at being able to use A Real Knob to play with the radio controls.......

I need to buy a new range. I'm not looking forward to it.

jakkom - I think my Volvo has the best of both worlds. A big single knob for volume/on-off/pause, and an incredibly well-designed touch screen (very few things require more than one menu, and all basics like temperature are an easy click on the main screen) that also connects with my phone so I can use the well designed Apple Car Play.

So, follow knob-lovers - does anyone have a steam oven? That's the one appliance for which I'm wondering if a menu with some preset cooking programs would be helpful. I've not used one before, and so I don't know how steep the learning curve is. I think both Miele and Bosch have some programming built-in, but Bertazzoni is all knobs and basic controls even for the steam oven. I'd love to hear anyone's experience with this.

Kristin - see my post above from last Thursday. I do use the Miele programs on the steam oven to ease the learning curve.

Kristin S - What did you end up with? I too, want knobs on my appliances. I think it's actually easier to use than all that scolling etc. I'm looking at the Blue Star induction cooktop and the Viking because of the knobs. Whatever cooktop I decide on I will get the coordinating ovens.

Kristin S Wondering what you ended up going with. I tried out the Miele combi steam oven in the store and I really don't like the computer screen. I was testing stuff out in the showroom and thought it was in demo mode, so I chose "descaling," and it started the descaling process.. Ack! So there I was trying to shut it down...was like when you accidentally hit "print" too soon and are frantically trying to shut it down so you don't print out the 200 page document in the wrong layout.

I do want a combi steam oven though. One thing we'd use it for is sour dough bread...but of course that wasn't an option in the master chef mode. Hmmm... So I think the computer stuff is just going to frustrate me more than help. But if I can just cook with the steam using my own setttings, I think I'll be ok. And then for the regular oven...I just want a regular oven! Anyway, my mom has the direct select miele double oven and that seems more intuitive to me. So thinking M Touch for the combi steam oven and Direct Select for the regular oven.

I checked out the Thermador. Looks nice on the outside, but I don't like how the door is so big for the little combi oven. And doesn't sound like it's as good as the Miele. But maybe that's okay? Too many choices!

Thanks for any advice!