Our Toaster Failed, and we want another one just like it

Our Dualit 4-Slice Toaster, Chrome @AMAZON failed after about 15 years of heavy use. We’re having it repaired for about 40% of the cost of a new one, because It Just Works. It’s unclear what failed, probably the timer dial, which has seen heavy use (kids go through a lot of toast!)

It’s designed right visually, it’s designed right functionally and it proved itself all these years. Even getting crumbs out is done the right way (the tray just pulls out at the bottom).

It won’t connect to the internet, won’t tell you what time it is, won’t notify your iWatch or tweet “toast is ready” or even beep when your toast is done. But it’s timer does have a pleasingly simple mechanical dial sound that also clicks lightly when done. You don’t have to update its firmware or read a manual to figure it out. It’s built solidly to last with direct-manipulation of all necessary and quite sufficient controls. It’s vented properly and has rugged feet on the bottom. Old school design, so rare today.

Our older model is even simpler than this photo. Now look at all the variety of toasters @AMAZON. Most are not only plastic but try too hard and end up being lame: beepers and timers and dials and even dual dials and dual LED displays and dual sliders, Charlie Foxtrot designs, many more parts to fail, confusion to arise. (That is exactly how both OS X and iOS now feel to me these days). Guess how many of those toasters will be working even 2 years from now with a family making toast every day of the year.

I want OS X Toaster and iOS Toaster.

Product designers out there: think Dualit toaster when designing any product.

Get Dualit 4-Slice Toaster @AMAZON at Amazon.

Dualit Classic 4-Slice Toaster, Chrome