@dadoes: Yup, the variable power control motor cycles a contact which turns on/off the magnetron X number of times each minute. The top user knob adjusts the timing, the lower the power level the longer the contact stays open and the higher the power level the longer the magnetron stays energized.
Elegant way of doing it, though I rarely use any other power level than 100%. The few times I've ever used a lower power level is when melting or softening butter. But other than that I let the food full power.
@Vacbear80: Small, but cozy. They offer a 0.9 cu 900 watt model too. I wish they offered a larger sizes as well, even an over the range model, but hey, this is a great start. UK knows that they want!
@ Suburbanmd: That can be a downfall, however at the same time the lack of a start button eliminates one more component that can fail. Typically you rotate the knob past 10 minutes, then set it to the time you need.
The only down side to not having a start button is that some people will close the door after they take out the food and forget to rotate the dial to "off". I've personally seen this in gas stations in the late 90s-2000s. Many of times we would stop to get a sandwich, and the micro would always be running empty with no one in sight. I thought it was kids playing around, until several times I saw people stick in a sandwich or coffee, turn the dial half way, watch the food until say the cheese started to bubble, pull the door open, grab it out, pitch the door shut and literally walk away 1/2 a second latter.
I honestly think microwaves are the few appliances that actually need a "push to start button" however I can also see the other side where a start switch would contribute to lower dependability in the home setting.
Key is being aware- and never relying on the door interlocks as primary control.
