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Comment by nunez | Hacker News Reader

Miele makes really good stuff. I have their stackable W1/T1 washer/dryer. It's unbelievably good at washing or drying pretty much anything. They also supposedly last forever, even today. I'll let y'all know how true that is in 20 years LOL

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Oh no... Ok, Miele rant - I got a whole set in the new house. Their firmware SUCKS. Turning on the oven/dishwasher takes 5-10s. The dishwasher takes 3 power button presses with no feedback. The oven has no indication when it starts turning on and it's a touchpanel, so you stand there like an idiot deciding is the next press will work or be perfectly timed to turn it off again. Then once you start the drying after steaming, you can't cancel (~20min). The washer needs a strong long press on "start" because it's somehow read twice in software and you can get into an in-between state where the controls go away but the washing doesn't start. ("Known issue, press harder") Their kitchen extractor fan has "loud" and "jet engine" settings. (At least that one's hardware)

Would not recommend this to anyone who can't easily test them in a showroom and even then not really... They do the actual job well, but their UX makes me angry every day.

The biggest difference more money would make is that I could have someone else deal with those issues.

your last line sums it. most rich/powerful have others to deal with UX. those products do not improve in UX.

The microwave in my apartment also has bad firmware. It beeps four times when the timer runs down and it turns off. Unfortunately, the beeping continues unnecessarily after opening the door. I believe Frigidaire (the brand) contracted a manufacturer to build the model, but they have their own people install the official firmware. Then the manufacturer produces extras, installs their own firmware, and sells them, cutting out the brand. And that's how I end up with a "Frigidaire" microwave that beeps when it shouldn't and says "GOOD" instead of "DONE". At least that's my theory.

Firmware is an important part of the appliance. An appliance with Frigidaire hardware and third-party firmware is counterfeit.

Maybe the same thing happened with your Miele appliances?

I don't believe Miele would go for selling the rebranded production extras as their own. But that beeping-after-open is common in many models and super annoying.

idk; i feel like lacking UX is a common thread amongst appliance manufacturers

Have the same set, as well as dishwasher and vacuum.

Nothing but good stuff to say in coming up on 10 years of use.

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