# No keypad on public/industrial microwave ovens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774 "2008-04-17T20:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/1 "2008-04-17T20:01:58Z")
I’ve noticed that microwave ovens that are being used in professional settings or are located in an environment (such as an office or university) where a lot of people might use them usually don’t have a full keypad. They either have a dial or have a series of pre-set time buttons. Is this because: 1. Keypad microwave ovens are more expensive? 2. Keypad microwave ovens are less durable? 3. Keypad microwave ovens are more easily mistakenly set for too-long times? 4. Some other reason? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/2 "2008-04-17T21:42:27Z")
#3, mostly. Having a user interface that consists solely of butons labeled **Reheat beverage Reheat plate Popcorn Stop** makes it impssible for some absent-minded (or malicious) person from tossing in a packet of popcorn and setting the timer for thirty minutes, thereby possibly causing a fire, and stinking up the place at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/3 "2008-04-17T23:35:59Z")
The ones that are set to types of food are owned by the vendor and meant for their product. I haven’t seen new dial ones for a long time. I have seen old ones. The mechanical timers were cheaper than digital ones and lasted a long time. This isn’t going to cover every situation you run into, but covers a number of them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/4 "2008-04-18T02:43:57Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] The ones that are set to types of food are owned by the vendor and meant for their product. [/quote] What vendor? What product? When I say “public” microwave, I mean, for example: 1. The microwave in the office pantry. There’s no vendor there. It’s for all employees to use to heat whatever food they bring in themselves. 2. The microwave at the 7-11. You can use it to heat anything you buy there. It’s not tied to any specific product. 3. The microwave in the student lounge. Again, there’s no vendor there. Well, there are vending machines nearby, but there’s no microwaveable food in them. > [@](#): > > I haven’t seen new dial ones for a long time. I have seen old ones. The ones in our office pantries are brand new dial models. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/5 "2008-04-18T02:50:00Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] I haven’t seen new dial ones for a long time. I have seen old ones. [/QUOTE] You haven’t been [looking](http://www.hubert.com/prod/RR.3026.37892/searchguidednav/Amana-Dial-Timer-Commercial-Microwave-Oven.html). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/6 "2008-04-18T13:22:45Z")
At my office the vendor of sandwiches provides a microwave that has labels for small sandwich large sandwich and the like. How am I to know you don’t have a vendor in your’s? The company supplied one is a digital you can enter what you want in. For the two replies, what part of “This isn’t going to cover every situation you run into, but covers a number of them.” isn’t applicable? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-keypad-on-public-industrial-microwave-ovens/445774/7 "2008-04-18T13:48:32Z")
The part where it’s unclear to what “this” refers.