Kuhn Rikon
Well, they are silent. Granted, the noise of a pressure cooker is a vintage sound unto itself. But more than that, you know once you hear it that it is cooking, up to pressure. If it stops making the noise, you know something is wrong.
So I can put a Presto cooker on, leave the kitchen. Once I hear the sound, I come back into the kitchen, lower the flame, set the timer - then leave the kitchen.
The Kuhn is silent. So the only way you will know it is up to pressure is if you look at the plastic rod that pops up and reveals the two red lines. If you lower the flame too much, lose the pressure, the only way you know is, again, if you look at the rod; whereas, the older cookers, no matter where you are (within reason) in the house, you can hear if the cooker has lost pressure, needs a stronger flame.
- - -
The only reason I bought it is because a) I wanted one so badly (or so I thought); b) it was a clearance item at Williams-Sonoma. So I got it for $75.00. But my favorite cooker is a wide but low Presto (4 qt.?) Just the right size for dinner for two with leftovers, easy to store.