We just got a new washer and dryer. They aren't even "smart", and they still have knobs, but they are obviously digital instead of mechanical under the hood, and they're fucking terrible. Everything takes a beat longer then it should to register/update, it all feels like shit to interact with, and bizarrely you can't leave anything paused. Need to pause the wash for 20 minutes so you can take a shower? Fuck you! You're gonna have to start the entire cycle over again
Miele is the worst with that. The oven takes ~5sec to power on. This should be instant. The dishwasher needs pressing power 3 times before it decides it's actually going to do anything. I don't recommend at all.
Yes.. bought a Miele Complete C3 Auto Comfort Boost getting on for a decade ago. Really nicely designed. The one bit of 'questionable' tech it has is a remote control in the handle for power and controlling the suction level.
However you quickly realise that's logical, as otherwise you'd need a second cable, or to embed it in the tube somehow.
What's less defensible is not duplicating the +/- buttons on the vacuum itself, so if the coin cell battery fails you can only turn it on and off.
I don't have a vacuum. But I'm addition to the oven and dishwasher, I have:
A dryer which blocks the start until I open and close the doors while it's turned on (doing it while off doesn't work).
A washer which checks the "start" button multiple times, so if you press it too lightly, the panel changes to "running" state but the washing doesn't start. (Known issues, won't be solved)
I’m very fond of my washing machine that uses electromagnetic relays, using digital controls for a washing machine is dumb and is only done to save a tiny bit of money and also I suppose to engineer the bathtub curve of product failure in.
All you really need are some valve actuators, timing relays, regular relays, a couple rotary switches, a water level switch, and contactors for the motor.
You need the valve actuators, water level switch, and motor contactors/controller anyways if you’re doing digital control, I’d rather have relays with a lifetime of 10 million actuations handle the very simple logic.
I have a set of Speed Queen appliances, and it was a relay that went bad that forced a board replacement in my washing machine, and not any of the digital components you're complaining about. Sometimes things fail. I think it's more important to buy a quality appliance that local shops know how to repair, rather than buying the cheapest Samsung model on the floor or buying the oldest mechanical machine you can find.
