Recent content by christd1

Heater vs energy usage I would think the issue with having the heater engaged to maitain temp on all cycles is that it would lead to a competitively less energy efficient machine.

I also have heard little swan.

Functional vs. cosmetic design protection The Korean manufacturers are notorious at reverse engineering product down to a point where it is almost silly. The real issue is that patent lawsuits are mostly based on performance enhancing design while violations of patents on styling are easily...

manufacturing location Marion, OH is where Whirlpool builds dryers. Maytag produces dryers in Searcy, AK and Newton but mainly in Herrin, IL.

No, they stopped carrying it in 2004. There is still a Frigidaire version available though.

Are those really direct drive? I always thought that direct drives had the permanent magnet motor. Are the Kenmore's a generic form of direct drive or what is the science behind them?

Who currently makes a direct drive top load washer with an agitator? I know of Fisher & Paykel, but do any other manufacturer's offer this product? If so, are they distributed in the U.S.?

Misleading.... laundromat- You have hit the nail on the head. How misleading is it to say...'our product is the most dependable...here is our new product that will be dependable too...(oh by the way, we don't make either one of these products and we are changing from Electrolux/Frigidaire...

Uhhhh........ Wow.... for those that have not seen it, the book in reference shows several colors of paint to DO YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM IN (ha ha ha) that goes with the new colors NOT other colors to order the product in. Whoops is right.

It is a 3.5 cu ft washer and is now on the sears website... http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=02644052000

BB Rumors Seems odd that they would launch a new product at Sears with a smaller capacity then one at Best Buy. I think your source is not as reliable as you think.

Capacity These are not 2.9 cu. ft. DOE capacity but 2.9 IEC rating. These are smaller than both the neptune and the FriGEmores.

IEC Capacity The Whirlpool produced HE4t is the current largest capacity product. It appears the Maytag (produced by Samsung) product will just barely exceed the HE4t. The LGs are 3.72 and the Bosch is 3.5 (both in IEC ratings). I too have seen some stretch capacity numbers which are just out...

Market Timing These have been at Lowe's and other places since June or July.

Smaller Kenmore Washer jmirawm- The smaller Kenmore frontloaders are made by Electrolux (Frigidaire). They are made in Iowa and have been around since 1996. I have owned one for 5 years and love it. Its a great machine at the right price to step out of a top loader.