New Microwave Oven Sharp or LG?

Guest
I need a new microwave oven to replace the old Panasonic. I have
narrowed down my choice to either Sharp R350J or LG MS-3444DPS but not
sure which one is better (both can be had for around $175).

Links:
http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0200040602&parentCategoryId=0200000406&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000521
http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/productinfo.asp?model=R350J

Differences between the two (+ indicates better/extra feature):

Sharp R350J
===========
+ 1200 watts
34 liter
32 cm turntable
+ timer function
healthy menus
+ backlit dot-matrix LCD display (2 lines)
1 year warranty

LG MS-3444DPS
=============
1100 watts
34 liter
+ 36 cm turntable
+ sensor cook/reheat
+ round cavity
aussie menus
segmented LCD display (single line)
+ 2 year warranty

Now questions:
1) is sensor cooking a useful feature or more like a marketing hype?
2) is round cavity a good thing? Sounds good but why no one else does
it?
3) does 1 extra year of warranty matters? I guess they should be quite
reliable nowadays.
4) I've heard Sharp microwave is better than LG in general, true?

I like the look and feel of Sharp, but if sensor cooking and round
cavity found in LG are good/practical features then I would get the LG.

Your thoughts? I welcome your input.

TIA
 
I have had a Sharp for nearly ten years and found it to be excellent. It has all the gizmos such as sensor cook and defost, but funny enough I never use them.

I have no idea what the round thingo is or means -

David

p19010101@yahoo.com wrote:

I need a new microwave oven to replace the old Panasonic. I have
narrowed down my choice to either Sharp R350J or LG MS-3444DPS but not
sure which one is better (both can be had for around $175).

Links:
http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0200040602&parentCategoryId=0200000406&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000521
http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/productinfo.asp?model=R350J

Differences between the two (+ indicates better/extra feature):

Sharp R350J
===========
+ 1200 watts
34 liter
32 cm turntable
+ timer function
healthy menus
+ backlit dot-matrix LCD display (2 lines)
1 year warranty

LG MS-3444DPS
=============
1100 watts
34 liter
+ 36 cm turntable
+ sensor cook/reheat
+ round cavity
aussie menus
segmented LCD display (single line)
+ 2 year warranty

Now questions:
1) is sensor cooking a useful feature or more like a marketing hype?
2) is round cavity a good thing? Sounds good but why no one else does
it?
3) does 1 extra year of warranty matters? I guess they should be quite
reliable nowadays.
4) I've heard Sharp microwave is better than LG in general, true?

I like the look and feel of Sharp, but if sensor cooking and round
cavity found in LG are good/practical features then I would get the LG.

Your thoughts? I welcome your input.

TIA
Click to expand...
 
On 10 Jun 2005 09:25:52 -0700, p19010101@yahoo.com wrote:

I need a new microwave oven to replace the old Panasonic. I have
narrowed down my choice to either Sharp R350J or LG MS-3444DPS but not
sure which one is better (both can be had for around $175).

Links:
http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0200040602&parentCategoryId=0200000406&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000521
http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/productinfo.asp?model=R350J

Differences between the two (+ indicates better/extra feature):

Sharp R350J
===========
+ 1200 watts
34 liter
32 cm turntable
+ timer function
healthy menus
+ backlit dot-matrix LCD display (2 lines)
1 year warranty

LG MS-3444DPS
=============
1100 watts
34 liter
+ 36 cm turntable
+ sensor cook/reheat
+ round cavity
aussie menus
segmented LCD display (single line)
+ 2 year warranty

Now questions:
1) is sensor cooking a useful feature or more like a marketing hype?
2) is round cavity a good thing? Sounds good but why no one else does
it?
3) does 1 extra year of warranty matters? I guess they should be quite
reliable nowadays.
4) I've heard Sharp microwave is better than LG in general, true?

I like the look and feel of Sharp, but if sensor cooking and round
cavity found in LG are good/practical features then I would get the LG.

Your thoughts? I welcome your input.
Click to expand...
I got a sharp, its never missed a beat. The LCD display is a joke
though, screwed up within a month or so, i was to lazy to get it
fixed. Its still usuable, only missing a line or 2. I think the
problem is not actually a sharp fault, but rather becasue my machine
sits above a wall mounted oven that heats up the microwave
 
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 10:58:06 +1000, The Real Andy
<will_get_back_to_you_on_This> wrote:

On 10 Jun 2005 09:25:52 -0700, p19010101@yahoo.com wrote:

I need a new microwave oven to replace the old Panasonic. I have
narrowed down my choice to either Sharp R350J or LG MS-3444DPS but not
sure which one is better (both can be had for around $175).

Links:
http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0200040602&parentCategoryId=0200000406&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000521
http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/productinfo.asp?model=R350J

Differences between the two (+ indicates better/extra feature):

Sharp R350J
===========
+ 1200 watts
34 liter
32 cm turntable
+ timer function
healthy menus
+ backlit dot-matrix LCD display (2 lines)
1 year warranty

LG MS-3444DPS
=============
1100 watts
34 liter
+ 36 cm turntable
+ sensor cook/reheat
+ round cavity
aussie menus
segmented LCD display (single line)
+ 2 year warranty

Now questions:
1) is sensor cooking a useful feature or more like a marketing hype?
2) is round cavity a good thing? Sounds good but why no one else does
it?
3) does 1 extra year of warranty matters? I guess they should be quite
reliable nowadays.
4) I've heard Sharp microwave is better than LG in general, true?

I like the look and feel of Sharp, but if sensor cooking and round
cavity found in LG are good/practical features then I would get the LG.

Your thoughts? I welcome your input.


I got a sharp, its never missed a beat. The LCD display is a joke
though, screwed up within a month or so, i was to lazy to get it
fixed. Its still usuable, only missing a line or 2. I think the
problem is not actually a sharp fault, but rather becasue my machine
sits above a wall mounted oven that heats up the microwave
Click to expand...
I've had a few of the sharps in for display problems all of which
sharp replaced without a fuss even if unit was out of warranty. Only
other probs have been broken door latch assy from heavy handed
operators.

I, personally would go for the Sharp having seen the support they have
for their product and their repairers.

LG, well......., read the warranty details - it may be a replacement
unit warranty where the unit is simply replaced by the retailer if a
faulty develops with your unit - this would be a good thing.

If it is a repair warranty then it may be a while before you see it
again. LG and Panasonic share equally the title of being the slowest
manufacturers to process warranty claims and send parts out to honour
the claims. I'll let Panasonic of the hook a little as they do manage
to send the correct parts first time around (unlike LG) when they get
around to delivery.

The above is worst case thinking should something go wrong with the
unit. I would expect both units to serve 2-3 years in normal domestic
duty without a problem. Any more than this will be down to lady luck
and she doesn't seem to care what brand you have or how much you
spent.

Cheers,
Sam T
 
Thanks for the feedback. Round cavity means instead of a squarish
interior, the side walls are curved around the turntable (like inside a
cylindrical object). I've downloaded the manual but funny that it never
mention the advantages of having a round cavity. I suppose it makes
interior cleaning a bit easier, I don't know what else it's good for.

Peter


quietguy wrote:
I have had a Sharp for nearly ten years and found it to be excellent. It has all the gizmos such as sensor cook and defost, but funny enough I never use them.

I have no idea what the round thingo is or means -

David

p19010101@yahoo.com wrote:

I need a new microwave oven to replace the old Panasonic. I have
narrowed down my choice to either Sharp R350J or LG MS-3444DPS but not
sure which one is better (both can be had for around $175).

Links:
http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0200040602&parentCategoryId=0200000406&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000521
http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/productinfo.asp?model=R350J

Differences between the two (+ indicates better/extra feature):

Sharp R350J
===========
+ 1200 watts
34 liter
32 cm turntable
+ timer function
healthy menus
+ backlit dot-matrix LCD display (2 lines)
1 year warranty

LG MS-3444DPS
=============
1100 watts
34 liter
+ 36 cm turntable
+ sensor cook/reheat
+ round cavity
aussie menus
segmented LCD display (single line)
+ 2 year warranty

Now questions:
1) is sensor cooking a useful feature or more like a marketing hype?
2) is round cavity a good thing? Sounds good but why no one else does
it?
3) does 1 extra year of warranty matters? I guess they should be quite
reliable nowadays.
4) I've heard Sharp microwave is better than LG in general, true?

I like the look and feel of Sharp, but if sensor cooking and round
cavity found in LG are good/practical features then I would get the LG.

Your thoughts? I welcome your input.

TIA
Click to expand...
 
My parents and a few relatives have Sharp microwaves for many years and
are still going strong, so I guess they are pretty good but then I
don't anyone who has a LG (it maybe just as good).

I've heard problems about the LCD display on Sharp microwave, it's
integrated with something and has to replace the whole lot if the
display ever plays up. There're quite a few posts regarding this in the
repair group, parts & labor make it impractical to repair unless it's
for a high-end model.

I dug up an old article from Choice magazine (July 2001), interestingly
enough they recommended the Sharp R380D (now revision J, R380J) and
R340D (the 340 series is obsoleted, I think 350 replaces it and R350J
is the current model). The obvious difference between R380J and R350J
is senor cooking/reheating.

Now I'm not quite sure if the sensor thing is going to be useful, I use
the microwave mainly for reheating leftover foods and forzen meals, and
very basic cooking like bacon and fish fillets. I'm not fancy cooking
steaks or chicken in a microware, so yeah maybe I just get the R350J
afterall.
 
My parents and a few relatives have Sharp microwaves for many years and
are still going strong, so I guess they are pretty good but then I
don't anyone who has a LG (it maybe just as good).

I've heard problems about the LCD display on Sharp microwave, it's
integrated with something and has to replace the whole lot if the
display ever plays up. There're quite a few posts regarding this in the
repair group, parts & labor make it impractical to repair unless it's
for a high-end model.

I dug up an old article from Choice magazine (July 2001), interestingly
enough they recommended the Sharp R380D (now revision J, R380J) and
R340D (the 340 series is obsoleted, I think 350 replaces it and R350J
is the current model). The obvious difference between R380J and R350J
is senor cooking/reheating.

Link:
http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=102386&catId=100447&tid=100008&p=1

Now I'm not quite sure if the sensor thing is going to be useful, I use
the microwave mainly for reheating leftover foods and forzen meals, and
very basic cooking like bacon and fish fillets. I'm not fancy cooking
steaks or chicken in a microware, so yeah maybe I just get the R350J
afterall.
 
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 18:39:34 -0700, p19010101 wrote:

Thanks for the feedback. Round cavity means instead of a squarish
interior, the side walls are curved around the turntable (like inside a
cylindrical object). I've downloaded the manual but funny that it never
mention the advantages of having a round cavity. I suppose it makes
interior cleaning a bit easier, I don't know what else it's good for.
.......
Click to expand...
Possibly spreads the microwave energy more evenly so it cooks better.

--
Regards, David.

David Clayton, e-mail: dcstar@XYZ.myrealbox.com
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
(Remove the "XYZ." to reply)

Knowledge is a measure of how many answers you have,
intelligence is a measure of how many questions you have.
 
p19010101@yahoo.com wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. Round cavity means instead of a squarish
interior, the side walls are curved around the turntable (like inside a
cylindrical object). I've downloaded the manual but funny that it never
mention the advantages of having a round cavity. I suppose it makes
interior cleaning a bit easier, I don't know what else it's good for.

Peter
Click to expand...
The round interior most likely gives the illusion of having more
efficient use of space.
Stuff rotates after all, and with a square cavity you can't really use
the corner space, your biggest item is the diameter from one wall to
the other, not from corner to corner. So having the round interior
might fool some people into thinking the space is more efficent maybe?,
i.e. it's a marketing gimick. Most likely it could have been a square
anyway with the same usable diameter.

Dave :)
 
as far as nukes are conserned i believe sharp make the better units out
of the lot. the units are better in terms of user ease, i much perfer a
touch panel with [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][0] instead of
[1 |10] [1 |10]

if you have the choice (and money usually is a limiting facter) obtain
one of the sharp convection nukes - these can operate in nuke or oven or
both modes convection is usefull in small appartments where kitchen
space is a limit - or just incase the main oven stuffs it. convect nukes
have better temp regulation too
 
"veritas" <veritas@coldmail.com> wrote in message
news:8Ivqe.13320$F7.8130@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
My Sharp is 19 years old - and still going strong...
Click to expand...
My Panasonic is 22 years old and still going strong. So what?

MrT.
 
Electronic applicances from the old days tend to last a long time,
maybe because things aren't that complicated back then, also possibly
they used quality components and had stricter manufacturing/QC
processes. I think the manufacturing philosophy has transformed from
quality and reliability to innovation and cost effectiveness over the
years.

I have a 20 years old NEC TV and it's still working perfectly. I doubt
that any recent models can last this long. It's a pity that they will
switch off the analogue transmission by 2008 and the TV will retire
when it happens (no AV input for set-top-box).

Anyway, I picked up the Sharp R350J this afternoon. Panasonic is good
but it costs slightly more than what I'm willing to pay, I think the
extra cost is to cover the inverter technology. The LG came very close,
but I noticed that the turntable support (roller stay/rotating ring or
whatever it's called) is made of cheap recycle-like material with very
rough edges. It makes me wonder if they use such material for visible
part, then what's inside could be a lot worse.

I have concluded that the round cavity found in LG is a gimmick, it
doesn't really do anything. Yes, it makes more efficient use of the
interior, but then the oven itself is still squarish and it occupies
the same amount of space like any other microwave. Also I don't think a
cylindrical interior improves the heating efficiency because microwave
cooks food from the inside out not the other way around like
conventional ovens. If round cavity is so good then wouldn't all new
models have it?

Alrighty, thanks for your feedback.


Mr.T wrote:
"veritas" <veritas@coldmail.com> wrote in message
news:8Ivqe.13320$F7.8130@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
My Sharp is 19 years old - and still going strong...

My Panasonic is 22 years old and still going strong. So what?

MrT.
Click to expand...
 
Mr.T wrote:
"veritas" <veritas@coldmail.com> wrote in message
news:8Ivqe.13320$F7.8130@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

My Sharp is 19 years old - and still going strong...


My Panasonic is 22 years old and still going strong. So what?

MrT.


So what? That's not bad for an electrical appliance!
Click to expand...

I take it that you agree that you were also satisfied with purchasing a Sharp MW?
 
On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:24:56 -0800, Mark Harriss wrote:

David L. Jones wrote:

the other, not from corner to corner. So having the round interior might
fool some people into thinking the space is more efficient maybe?, i.e.
it's a marketing gimmick. Most likely it could have been a square
anyway with the same usable diameter.

Dave :)


New Scientist magazine published an article about a new
microwave design with a pentagonal shaped chamber, this eliminated the
RF standing wave inside the oven and was much more efficient in terms of
energy used and eveness of the heating.

Maybe this is a similar design?.
Click to expand...
An internal design with non-parallel reflective walls would probably
distribute the energy more evenly than the "standard" shape of walls at
right-angles to each other.

This technique is used in audio areas to prevent standing waves while
maximising available space, one wonders why a similar thing doesn't seem
to have been used in ovens.

--
Regards, David.

David Clayton, e-mail: dcstar@XYZ.myrealbox.com
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
(Remove the "XYZ." to reply)

Knowledge is a measure of how many answers you have,
intelligence is a measure of how many questions you have.
 
On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 19:13:32 +1000, David Clayton
<dcstar@XYZ.myrealbox.com> wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:24:56 -0800, Mark Harriss wrote:



An internal design with non-parallel reflective walls would probably
distribute the energy more evenly than the "standard" shape of walls at
right-angles to each other.

This technique is used in audio areas to prevent standing waves while
maximising available space, one wonders why a similar thing doesn't seem
to have been used in ovens.
Click to expand...
I am guessing that the cost to implement V the benifit makes it
unreasonable. Whilst I really have no idea about this, one has to
question the actual benifit. Is it 0.01% increase in performance, or
is it 50% increase?? A square is easy to make...
 
I thought that the so-called "fan-forced" microwave ovens simply
use fan blades as mobile reflecters. Or do these only exist in
combined convection/uWave ovens?
 
David L. Jones wrote:

the other, not from corner to corner. So having the round interior
might fool some people into thinking the space is more efficent maybe?,
i.e. it's a marketing gimick. Most likely it could have been a square
anyway with the same usable diameter.

Dave :)
Click to expand...

New Scientist magazine published an article about a new
microwave design with a pentagonal shaped chamber, this eliminated
the RF standing wave inside the oven and was much more efficient
in terms of energy used and eveness of the heating.

Maybe this is a similar design?.
 
The Real Andy wrote:
I am guessing that the cost to implement V the benifit makes it
unreasonable. Whilst I really have no idea about this, one has to
question the actual benifit. Is it 0.01% increase in performance, or
is it 50% increase?? A square is easy to make...
Click to expand...
Here take a look for yourself at paragraph 5 and 6, it's all about
microwave optics. Oh, a cylinder is easier to make than a cube in
sheetmetal too BTW. The pentagonal shape won't be seen unless
manufacturers license it from the paten holders.


http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,6330,126292,00.html
 
<p19010101@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1118483064.253785.250070@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
Electronic applicances from the old days tend to last a long time,
maybe because things aren't that complicated back then, also possibly
they used quality components and had stricter manufacturing/QC
processes.
Click to expand...
Yes, and they often cost up to 10 times the price in relative
dollars/income.

I think the manufacturing philosophy has transformed from
quality and reliability to innovation and cost effectiveness over the
years.
Click to expand...
Yep, the cost is more effective for replacing more often.

I have a 20 years old NEC TV and it's still working perfectly. I doubt
that any recent models can last this long.
Click to expand...
I wonder just how many hours you worked to buy it originally? Do they
currently make any the same size, that cost as much in "real terms" (after
allowing for inflation)?
(CRT type of course)

Why would you not prefer to buy a similar set, with newer features, possibly
twice as often, but for less than half the price?
The saving on initial outlay is another bonus, especially if you save
interest on any loan or mortgage in the process!

It's a pity that they will
switch off the analogue transmission by 2008 and the TV will retire
when it happens (no AV input for set-top-box).
Click to expand...
However you could still use a STB and RF converter if you really want to.
You probably have a VCR that will do the conversion for you already.

I have concluded that the round cavity found in LG is a gimmick, it
doesn't really do anything.
Click to expand...
Since you don't appear to have tried it, I cant see how you determined that?

Also I don't think a
cylindrical interior improves the heating efficiency because microwave
cooks food from the inside out not the other way around like
conventional ovens.
Click to expand...
A common misconception, so easily demonstrated to be false, that I cannot
understand how it persists after all these years!

If round cavity is so good then wouldn't all new
models have it?
Click to expand...
Not if people think like you.
(disclaimer, I haven't tried one so have no idea if it really reduces
hotspots, but it might)

MrT.
 
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