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The microwave is a genius move. The key thing is that it's a really cheap microwave. Most people who need a microwave don't want or need anything special, and w

The microwave is a genius move. The key thing is that it's a really cheap microwave. Most people who need a microwave don't want or need anything special, and will buy the cheapest decent-looking one, and this is where the Amazon microwave sits. They'll sell crate-loads of them. And all those people will then have a device sitting in their home with the potential to connect to Alexa. So if/when they decide they want to play the smart home game, they'll think 'Oh well we already have one Alexa device, so lets get an Alexa'.

kazen44 8y ago
How many people own a microwave though? Most people i know don't have one and would rather spend to money on getting a proper oven. Microwaves also seem like they have little use compared to things like a stove or oven. Atleast i personally have barely used a microwave when cooking.
- scarface74 8y ago
  This is another example of the old Slashdot comment “do people still watch TV? I haven’t owned a TV in 15 years”. 98.6% of households own a microwave. https://www.census.gov/history/www/homepage_archive/2015/october_2015.html https://www.census.gov/history/www/homepage_archive/2015/oct...
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- markn951 8y ago
  ...what? What is your life like that most people you know don’t have a _microwave_? I don’t think I’ve ever met _anyone_ without a microwave.
  - kazen44 8y ago
    maybe this is a cultural/regional thing? I am not from the US.
- cthalupa 8y ago
  Almost everyone owns a microwave. You're literally the only person I've spoken to who doesn't. Over 90% of the US owns a microwave. (Though sales are apparently dropping) https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/187743/the-slow-death-of-the-microwave/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/187743/the-slow-death-of...
  - slantyyz 8y ago
    The % is probably similar for Canada too. I don't know anyone who doesn't have one.
- fredley 8y ago
  This is not the reality I live in. Everyone has a microwave, and for people in student halls or less affluent accomodation, it's sometimes the only available way to cook. For many (in the UK) 'ready-meals', most of which are preparable with just a microwave, are a staple part of people's diet - even among more affluent, but time-poor people. There's usually a whole supermarket aisle dedicated to these foods.
  - adventured 8y ago
    Individual accounts are of course often of modest value, however, I've literally never known a person that didn't have a microwave in their home, rich or poor, in the US. It's one of the things that is nearly universal in homes. They're too inexpensive to not buy due to cost, and they're too useful (even if only used in rare circumstances) to disregard as a part of a kitchen. They take up a small amount of space, and come in numerous sizes to fit spacing requirements. Essentially every supermarket in the US also has a frozen meals (ready-meals as you say), or equivalent, aisle. The items in those aisles appeal to just about every price point these days. They're clearly still quite popular.
- NeedMoreTea 8y ago
  Everyone I know has one. Very few use it for anything other than reheating. Maybe boiling a cup of milk and the odd ready meal. The microwave at work on the other hand gets loads of use.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
tbyehl 8y ago
> The key thing is that it's a really cheap microwave. A few months ago I bought a house that did not come with a microwave. For the first time in my life I had to shop for one. And... I quickly learned that there are microwaves with "Inverters" that solve the microwaves cook from the outside-in problem. They've existed for like 20 years now. The one I bought also has some sort of sensor for auto-magically heating up leftovers. It's amazing and barely cost more than a standard one that would have fit the cabinet space. Don't buy cheap microwaves.

kazen44 8y ago

How many people own a microwave though? Most people i know don't have one and would rather spend to money on getting a proper oven. Microwaves also seem like they have little use compared to things like a stove or oven. Atleast i personally have barely used a microwave when cooking.

scarface74 8y ago
This is another example of the old Slashdot comment “do people still watch TV? I haven’t owned a TV in 15 years”. 98.6% of households own a microwave. https://www.census.gov/history/www/homepage_archive/2015/october_2015.html https://www.census.gov/history/www/homepage_archive/2015/oct...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
markn951 8y ago
...what? What is your life like that most people you know don’t have a _microwave_? I don’t think I’ve ever met _anyone_ without a microwave.
- kazen44 8y ago
  maybe this is a cultural/regional thing? I am not from the US.
cthalupa 8y ago
Almost everyone owns a microwave. You're literally the only person I've spoken to who doesn't. Over 90% of the US owns a microwave. (Though sales are apparently dropping) https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/187743/the-slow-death-of-the-microwave/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/187743/the-slow-death-of...
- slantyyz 8y ago
  The % is probably similar for Canada too. I don't know anyone who doesn't have one.
fredley 8y ago
This is not the reality I live in. Everyone has a microwave, and for people in student halls or less affluent accomodation, it's sometimes the only available way to cook. For many (in the UK) 'ready-meals', most of which are preparable with just a microwave, are a staple part of people's diet - even among more affluent, but time-poor people. There's usually a whole supermarket aisle dedicated to these foods.
- adventured 8y ago
  Individual accounts are of course often of modest value, however, I've literally never known a person that didn't have a microwave in their home, rich or poor, in the US. It's one of the things that is nearly universal in homes. They're too inexpensive to not buy due to cost, and they're too useful (even if only used in rare circumstances) to disregard as a part of a kitchen. They take up a small amount of space, and come in numerous sizes to fit spacing requirements. Essentially every supermarket in the US also has a frozen meals (ready-meals as you say), or equivalent, aisle. The items in those aisles appeal to just about every price point these days. They're clearly still quite popular.
NeedMoreTea 8y ago
Everyone I know has one. Very few use it for anything other than reheating. Maybe boiling a cup of milk and the odd ready meal. The microwave at work on the other hand gets loads of use.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

tbyehl 8y ago

> The key thing is that it's a really cheap microwave. A few months ago I bought a house that did not come with a microwave. For the first time in my life I had to shop for one. And... I quickly learned that there are microwaves with "Inverters" that solve the microwaves cook from the outside-in problem. They've existed for like 20 years now. The one I bought also has some sort of sensor for auto-magically heating up leftovers. It's amazing and barely cost more than a standard one that would have fit the cabinet space. Don't buy cheap microwaves.