>>>" Is there a way to go induction without spending $3,000+?"Sure. As DCJersey says, there are numbers of induction ranges that cost less than $3k and several that cost less than $2k. AJ Madison is indeed an excellent place to check out the offerings. For less than $2k, the current choices for induction in ranges for the US are all freestanding models: (a) A couple of Samsung NOPBSR models: one is roughly $1300 (NE595NOPBSR) and the other is $1600 (NE597NOPBSR) at AJ Madison. I looked at the 597 pretty seriously several months ago and have posted about it (including in a thread DCJersey started a couple of months ago.) The NE597 looked like a pretty good deal, but Samsung has not been in the US market long enough to have developed much of a track record for judging long term reliability and parts availability. That can give some people pause. Also, people have reported problems with Samsung's outsourced warranty service on other other Samsung products. Consumer Reports rates Samsung highly for cooktop and oven performance, slightly behind GE's induction stoves. There is no data yet about Samsung electrical stoves in CR's annual membership product reliability surveys. (b) Some Whirlppool branded products (a Whirlpool, a Maytag and a KitchenAid). The Whirlpool and Maytag have unusual burner arrangements (small burners up front with the burner control pad betweent them). The Kitchenaid looks like it might be outsourced and rebranded from Electrolux/Frigidaire or maybe even Samsung. The criticism of the WP products is that their only oven self-cleaning is a "steam clean" function which reportedly does not work very well. (I wound up buying an NXR gas stove and use the steam-clean technique, which requires wiping out (if not scrubbing) the oven with a blue Scotch-brite scrubbing sponge. It is not bad but, then, NXR does not claim to have a self-cleaning oven function.) (c) Frigidaire FPIF3093LF, which seems to be a decent range for about $1700. (BTW, Frigidaire is a division of Electrolux). CR's membership surveys show GE/Hotpoint electric stoves as reliability champs witho 4% and 6% defect ratea. Frigidaire, by comparison, is significantly higher with a higher, 10% defect rate for electrical stoves. Not sure how that affects induction stoves because there are no breakouts for induction stoves. Some reviews on other forums and vendor sites. Reviews are are mostly very positive. Nobody seems have posted here at GW about the Frigidaire induction range, though. It has a different layout and a larger oven than the more expensive ELectrolux/Kenmore corporate brandmates. No performance rating from Consumer Reports, yet. (d) GE will (sometime soon) be releasing the GE Profile PHP915 induction range which seems to be a slightly less-feature rich version of the PHP/PHS925 models which have been very highly rated here on GW and which are Consumer Reports' highest rated stoves. Not clear when this stove will reach the market. Some sites have said Marhc and others have said August. For induction ranges in the $2k to $3k range, the choices currently are: (a) GE Profile PHP925 (freestanding) and PHS925 (slide-in) which are very highly thought of here. (b) Samsung NE599NOPBSR which is available in Canada, but not on the US side of the border. There have been a couple of postings about quality control problems here. (c) Kenmore freestanding and and slide-in induction stoves (made for Sears by Electrolux) and pretty well thought of although there were some quality control problems with the intial production runs a couple of years ago. Mostly postive reviews since then, but not many reviews. (d) Electrolux Wavetouch EW30IF60IS freestanding range. Been inproduction for several years and mostly pretty well reviewed although Consumer Reports testing seemed to downrate its oven functions. As hollysprings and fori suggest, you have a more choices if you can go with a separate cooktop and wall oven. There are numbers of such combinations that will cost less than $3k, assuming you've got the electrical wiring already in place to handle the higher demands of separate units. Some combos may cost less than $2k. My kitchen electrical would not readily accomodate the power needs of a separate cooktop and oven, so I did not research this approach when I was recently shopping for a new stove. Again, though, the suggestion to cruise through AJ MAdison is good one for finding your options and getting a handle on pricing. >>>"What about combining a good gas range with a smaller induction hob?"It certainly can be done for less than $3k or even $2k -- heck, maybe even less that $1k --- depending on what you have in mind as as a "good" gas range and what did you have in mind for a "smaller" induction hob and how you want your kitchen laid out. A small hob might mean one of the portable hotplate models like the Max Burton/Athena, Aroma, or Vollrath models. These are hotplates. These run from under $100 to around $250. They'll give you speed of adjustment and low level simmering. But, as Yebo said, it's still only hot plate. No really rapid boiling or the other "magic of high power induction. Or, you can get 240v induction hobs from the likes of Cooktek. They can be had in drop-in versions (i.e., a mini induction cooktop that drops into a cut-out on a countertop like any other smoothop cooktop, only smaller. They can be had in self-contained "portable" hobs. They look like Incredible Hulk verisons of hot plates. (BIIIGGG!!!) I used a a Cooktek unit for a while and it would heat a cast iron pan hot enough to melt lead. (That's roughly 620F, IIRC). More than enough power to do all the high-heat induction magic. They are made for commercial applications so they are tough and and dead-bang reliable. A single burner costs around $750, so as expensive as some decent gas stoves. Because they need a 240v outlet, these units are not really portable in any sense that most of us would recognize. But maybe that's what you want? This post was edited by JWVideo on Wed, Jan 16, 13 at 2:15

As you'll note from other pros commenting here, Andersen Silverline windows aren't a good product, and having a black exterior is only going to amplify their problems. Good vinyl solutions are either the Okna 800 or Vytex Potomac. Someone else mentioned Marvin Integrity. I'd suggest looking at their ALL Ultrex line. It's an all fiberglass window that will be available in your color schemes. Just remember, all of these solutions will cost more than Andersen Silverline, but it will be less costly than buying Silverline and then buying better windows down the road.

I had the first window company visit the house yesterday. He referred to my existing “single strength” windows as “$3.00 windows” and said the installation was awful, it’s no wonder I hear so much outdoor noise. He feels the basic glass option from Marvin, with proper installation, will make a noticeable difference but based on my comments would recommend their sound reducing option. The second company I’m meeting with later this week was recommended to me by the local architectural rep from Marvin. Unfortunately, I’m already not feeling solid about this company. The salesman didn’t follow up with me during our first interaction and when I mentioned it, he placed blame on the Marvin rep. Also, when I told him I would be comparing him against other companies he started with the scare tactics about most local companies don’t have certified installers. Seems like a fast talker to me, which put me off. Will have more details about the windows later this week.

Total of 33 windows: 24 casements, 3 fixed, 2 double-hung(bsmt egress), 4 hopper, unsure of installer as this is part of my question and plan to talk to various companies to see if my budget is even realistic...a lot of unknowns.