Spin Away with the BonJour Rotary Dial Digital Timer
Written: Jul 09 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Large letters, VERY easy to use, loud alarm, AAA battery, magnet/stand/clip
Cons: Magnet could be stronger
The Bottom Line: This BonJour timer is a cinch to use and a great tool to have on hand. It is highly versatile and comes in handy.
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| Javelina's Full Review: Bonjour Rotary Dial Digital Timer (blue) |
I am in the process of trying to build up my stock of kitchen supplies. In a recent move, I found my nearly unused BonJour Rotary Digital Timer, which, as I will mention later, I bought on CyberRebate.com years ago! Fortunately, the batteries were still working, and despite no instruction manual, this timer is a cinch to use. And as I try to expand my range of new cooking skills, a good timer is exactly what I need.
Design
The BonJour Timer comes in at least blue and white (that I know of), and I have the blue timer. The blue plastic face measures about 3” in diameter, and isn’t completely opaque, but has a sort of see-through essence to it, which I think gives it a nice, modern look.
This timer is completely round, with a rotary face that turns to select an amount of time. As you spin the dial, it makes a very audible clicking noise that corresponds to each minute. The dial has an indent on it that makes it easy to grip the dial with a fingertip, if you choose not to hold the edges.
The back of the Bonjour Timer has a clip with a magnet on it, as well as a metal piece so that you can manipulate the back into a stand. Therefore, you can stick this to a surface as a magnet, clip it to something, stand it on a countertop, or hang it- making it highly versatile!
The digital numbers are nice and large, and are easy to read (3/8” tall!).
The timer operates on one AAA battery. I am glad that it has a fairly significant size battery, rather than a watch battery or something small that would run out faster. Plus, AAA batteries are something I keep around the house, so when this runs out, I won’t have any problems replacing it. (The battery compartment is on the back). I have had this timer for a few years now (at least 3), and I haven’t needed to put in a new battery.
Features & Functions
This timer is very simple to use. There’s a Start/Stop button, as well as a Timer and Clock buttons. You simply set the timer to 0 and press start to have it count up from zero, or select a time from which you want it to count down from. The highest time that you can spin the dial to is 99 minutes (and is the highest the timer will count to).
In terms of care, the parts are fairly flush with one another, so the timer can easily be wiped clean with a cloth or sponge.
The alarm is nice and loud, which is what I feel is probably the most important characteristic. There’s nothing worse than not hearing a timer go off and miss something important. The beeping is loud and constant, providing a nice alert, and will beep for 60 seconds.
Some Imperfections…
Although I really like the BonJour Timer, there are some things that I feel could be improved. For one, I don’t feel that the magnet is strong enough. Once in a while, the timer seems to slide on metal surfaces. I wish it were strong enough to be able to use as a heavy duty fridge magnet as well, so that it could hold papers or whatnot.
I don’t know if this timer will provide any alarm after 60 seconds of beeping, but I would hope that it would provide more beeping warnings (like your microwave, when you don’t take the food out).
Price & Where to Buy
I really have to laugh when I think of where I bought the BonJour Digital Timer. I bought it years ago on CyberRebate.com, which was quite a failure of a dot-com. I don’t remember how much I paid, but I’m sure I paid an extremely inflated amount before receiving a rebate. I checked online and you can easily get this timer at various sources for around $10.
Websites
I couldn’t find a home page for the BonJour product line, but there are plenty of companies that carry their products, and where you could purchase this timer.
My other kitchen reviews:
Oxo Garlic Press: http://www.epinions.com/content_103995248260
Zyliss Swivel Peeler: http://www.epinions.com/content_103169691268
Zyliss Slotted Turner: http://www.epinions.com/content_101971234436
Zyliss Ice Cream Scoop: http://www.epinions.com/content_99935948420
Oxo Pizza Cutter: http://www.epinions.com/content_97565380228
Oxo 4-pc Measuring Spoons: http://www.epinions.com/content_88494083716
Oxo Swivel Peeler: http://www.epinions.com/content_95346200196
Banana Holder: http://www.epinions.com/content_98597113476
Overall
The BonJour Rotary Digital Timer is really useful. I keep it on my fridge, which is very convenient and accessible. The timer is incredibly easy to set and to read, and the alarm isn’t something you would be likely to not hear. This product is incredibly easy to use, and other people have used it in my kitchen without needing my instruction. In fact, I not only use this in my kitchen but for other situations that need something timed or for a reminder.
I bought this gadget because it was free with rebate, so it was a rather random and arbitrary purchase. However, I am now very happy that I have it, because it is a valuable tool to have in the kitchen.
Recommended:
Yes
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