I know this post is old, and I hope you haven't taken the plunge yet. Please stay away from glass top ranges unless you have no interest in cooking and no appreciation for temperature, technique, or control. Also, stay away unless you want to have to bring out Bar Keeper's Friend every time you place a pot on the stove to just boil water. My Mother bought a Maytag glasstop range about 5 years ago after I warned her. Each time I visit I do all of the cooking and the cleaning. If I had my way I would take an ax to it. People get these because they're "easy to clean"??? Oh my gosh, it's a nightmare. The heat goes on and off. It takes FOREVER just to boil water. There is absolutely no control whatsoever. But wait, there's more.....You slip and drop something on it and it cracks,.....it's a huge expense to have it replaced. You ask what you should be looking for? NOT a glass or ceramic top. Stick with gas or electric.

I've had an induction cooktop for almost four years. I love, love, love it. I wouldn't cook on anything else. Had a gas one before. Induction is instant (like gas) and twice as efficient as gas. And, a cinch to keep clean. Nothing burns on it. Plus, it's easier to control the heat on it than any gas or electric cooktop. I can melt chocolate on it. Don't need a double boiler. The heat can be so low (not possible with gas or electric) that eggs don't curdle in a custard sauce. Mine also has individual timers on each "burner" (it's a European brand). No more burned vegetables or overcooked asparagus. I just set the timer and go on to prepping or cooking something else. And, it makes perfect boiled eggs. Heat up the eggs in water to boiling on No. 11 heat, turn down to No. 4, set the timer for 4 minutes and voila! perfect medium boiled eggs. But the ease in cleaning makes getting it a no-brainer, that is, if you don't like taking apart an electric coil or gas range to clean it. In a few years I predict induction will be the major source of cooking. Prices are already coming down to compare to some higher-priced gas cooktops. Once you cook on one, you'll never look back.

Knobs are more ergonomically desirable. On the best knobs, you can both see and feel what the setting is. Clicks help too. Asolo gave good reasons for liking touchpads. For the cooktop, specifically, I like my Gaggenau, which has a magnetic knob. The glass is uninterrupted. Pick up the knob and it's solid. I like the way using the knob for the control works better than touching a horizontal touch pad. Vertical ones are easier. The way the Gaggenau knob works is that you put it in it's spot and a strong magnet holds it there. To select an element you push the knob along the surface toward that element's indicator, then turn to make the setting. You still have to look at the indicator to see what the setting is, however. The rest of the controls are touch circles, but when you set the timers or enter a memory, you touch the control then use the knob to determine your setting. The good and the bad is that you have to know how to work it. The bad is obvious--people who just walk up to it won't know what to do. That's also the good--they're not going to be interfering either. Just don't let dotty old Auntie walk off with the knob! I think the cooktop automatically shuts off when the knob is removed. For sure you can't work it without. I don't know how the knob works on other units. I went to a lot of bother to get mine (though there were other advantages too) because I'd fallen in love with that knob. It was worth it. If you don't have true love, however, I don't know that it would be of greater utility. Any of the controls that have a bar or arc that shows a graphic of the power level is better than a round knob with no pointer or markings. Sliders are better than tap tap tappers. Just for the ergonomics.

Have no idea why anyone would choose old electric for cooking when induction is really the choice now for so many reasons. I prefer gas but if i had to induction would for sure be my choice.All stoves get dirty when cooking so look at cooktops that are easy to clean . As for the controls that is personal choice.