Preprogrammed washers and dryers

[mavei511]

I'm noticing a trend on modern washers and dryers-most are getting away from the basic cycles and manual control and moving towards preprogammed cycles.

I don't know about you ,but I don't particularly like computerized programmable washers and dryers with 50 million preprogrammed settings.
Not only do I not need all those(like having a setting to wash ONE white handkerchief,for example,but I like having individual flexibility for wash temps and wash/spin speeds.
To me, all those cycles are ridiculous.I don't need them. True on some machines you have manual override on some settings,but I wonder how long it will be before manufacturers and the government take that away from us.
Just gimme the basics-3 water levels(with a properly filled tub),3 washtemps-all with cold rinses,2 speeds,and regular ,permanent press and delicate cycles.
On the dryer(GAS of course)I can get buy with one to three temps(depending on mfr.-some brands run hotter than others). Automatic regular and permanent press (either separate or combined as one cycle)and a timed cycle. If a machine has air fluff that's OK,but my present machine doesen't have it and I don't miss it,so it's not essential to me.

 

[Bearpeter]

I am the opposite....

My dream machine would have the option to programme every part of the wash. Sad, I know but hey..... only the opinion of a washer mad man!!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

But if you lived further north, you might want a cool wash and rinse setting or thermostatically controlled warm & cold wash and rinse selections for winter when the tap cold water gets very cold. Low end models are still available for your wants and many washers with programmed cycles have a favorite cycle option to make life simpler. Often, though, the more deluxe machines offer faster spin speeds for better extraction, larger capacities and other upgrades that are not related to the electronic cycle programming. The nice thing is that, just like the movie of more than 30 years ago, there is something for everyone and if you do not want a fancy machine, you do not have to buy one. Others, who like lights, bells, whistles and all that money can buy, can choose a machine that meets their tastes. One of the reasons that manufacturers historically have liked the programmed cycles is that they improve performance because wash times and temperatures have fixed minimum settings.

 

[sudsmaster]

I may be biased, since I own one, but I think the Neptune 7500 has the best of both worlds.

You can select (and create) from a list of preprogrammed and custom wash programmes. You can override virtually all the settings, within reason (you can't set it for a hot wash and warm rinse, for example, but you CAN set it for a hot wash and hot first rinse if you also enable the "stain cycle" option).

You can even go into a diagnostic mode and make the machine purge the hot water line by turning the hot water on and the drain pump on until the sump temp reaches 120F.

Despite the Neptune's well-known mechanical and electrical issues, this is a very nice control panel design - and one of my hopes for the Whirlpool purchase of Maytag was that they would incorporate the 7500 touch screen technology into some of the Whirlpool machines (like the Duet!). Maytag wound up suing LG and others for allegedly pirating the touch screen technology; seems to me I saw one non-Maytag washer at the Sears Outlet the other night with a similar screen... so perhaps Maytag settled and/or licensed the technology to others before it got bought out.

 

[DADoES]

GE's Harmony pair has touch-screen controls.

 

[sudsmaster]

That was probably the one I saw.