Agreement and counterpoints

Author's Rating:

Pros: You'll seldom use your full-sized, regular oven again.

Cons: Don't forget to remove the metal rack when using "straight" Microwave feature!

The Bottom Line: 
This product isn't at all over-priced for what it does. It replaces many other appliances, and performs the function of each of them excellently.

Author's Review
I recently purchased this wonderful product from Sears at just over $600.00 (on sale) to replace the mostly useless (oh so slow) and poorly performing (oh so weak) SpaceMaker microwave which I inherited with the house.

As one who has a perfectly satisfactory kitchen (cabinets and all) but with the space limitations imposed by a GE SpaceMaker microwave installed when my home was built, my choices were more or less limited to the space occupied by the old unit.

Doyle101's review of the JVM1490 was, by far, the single greatest factor influencing my consideration of and purchase of this unit. As one who held little if any fondness for the SpaceMaker microwave that came with my new home, GE had a lot of ground to make up in my mind to convince me that such a product from its line was worthy of my attention.

After reading doyle101's review, I have to wonder if GE has actually listened and made changes to address every problem expressed.

My experience is that the Convection Bake feature does NOT take hardly any time to preheat before using. Mine preheats quickly... a lot more quickly than my main oven could ever do. Indeed, this oven is so utilitarian, I have all but stopped using my regular oven because this GE unit preheats much faster, doesn't heat up the kitchen and tax my air conditioning bill, doesn't decrease my kitchen comfort (from heat output), and cooks food far more evenly.

Along these lines, I spent many years in Europe where almost all ovens made within the last 15 or 20 years use a convection feature by default. When I moved back to the U.S., I felt like I'd stepped into the Dark Ages when it came to kitchen appliances. I really missed the energy and time saving logic and utility of convection features I'd grown so fond of in Europe.

I don't notice that the unit is at all loud when in "Fast Bake" mode. Overall, in any mode whatsoever, the unit is significantly quieter than the 10 year old unit it replaced. And the sounds it emits aren't at all distracting or unpleasant. The unit is incredibly civilized.

My experience with Sensor Cooking reveals that it heats food exactly to the temperature I desire each and every time. As a practicing attorney, I cannot help but think of the McDonald's analogy when considering this point. Anyone in the litigation arena knows that McDonalds serves its coffee 15 to 20 degrees hotter than any other chain as a matter of policy. But does this mean that the coffee at Dennys is cold because it doesn't scald people the way McDonalds' coffee does? Perhaps this is a matter of preference... one which is easily remedied by tapping the reheat button again.

I have yet to have the sensor heat food to anything other than a "correct" temperature range.

GE may have reworked the controls for this model since the previous opinion, because the controls are not at all cumbersome for doing mundane tasks like "reheating a cup of coffee." Two touches to the reheat button and a push on the round knob set the process into motion. I personally find this far easier than punching in the amount of time and power I randomly guess something will properly take when it comes to reheating things without incinerating some parts while leaving other parts stone cold.

I don't find the controls at all intimidating... indeed, I find they are both intuitive and simple. It seems that GE carefully studied how people go about using microwave and regular cooking functions and seamlessly combined the functions into one unit. I honestly can't think of anything more I'd expect from this unit.

I agree that it is wise to read the manual before using this model, however, I would give the same advice to anyone concerning any appliance or product.

The one major sticking point to the use of this unit is the metal rack which can be used for both (convection) Bake and Fast Bake. This overall appliance becomes such an integral part of daily life, one could easily forget to remove the metal cooking rack when using the straight "Microwave" feature... and such lack of foresight could lead to arcing within and damage to the unit.

I think this unit is equally great for those who cook a lot or those who cook a little. It's as simple and energy-conserving as a microwave or toaster oven, and as versatile as a full size oven with the added benefit of convection. I personally believe this appliance is a good investment for anyone because, on its own, it replaces a variety of separate appliances and does everything well and without compromise.

Finally, the capacity of this unit is incredible. Very slight increases in the depth and height dimensions over earlier over-the-range microwave units camouflage the massive amount of interior space that has been gained by enhancements in electronics technology. The wiring and controls of this unit have been significantly reduced in size and volume over earlier models, and virtually all of the space-saving improvements have been dedicated to increasing the capacity of this appliance.

As stated previously, I seldom use my regular oven anymore. This new GE Profile unit uses such little energy, emits so little heat, and provides so much consistency and utility, the only time I use my regular oven is when I'm entertaining and cooking multiple items which require different times and temperatures simultaneously.