General Electric JE1860 1100 Watts Microwave Oven

Pros: Price tag ($150), large interior, ease-of-use, Sensor Popcorn Function
Cons: Looks like a standard microwave.

The world of convenience cooking grows ever more convoluted with seemingly dysfunctional or useless features becoming more and more opulent. Haha wow, that was a rather harsh way to begin, I should clarify my view a little bit. There are a LOT of ...

Pros: Gorgeous, powerful, easy to use
Cons: Interior panel scorches easily when food spatters build up; Easy to fix it yourself

We moved into our house shortly after all the appliances had been replaced in the kitchen, 5 years ago. I was immediately impressed with how nice this microwave looked. This was built in to the cabinetry with the stainless steel frame kit, and it is ...

Pros: One touch cooking buttons
Cons: Have not found any

Our church bought two of these about a year ago and we use them every Sunday. I know it's a different type workout from the workout one might get in a home, but they are used constantly for 30 minutes to an hour while everyone cooks or heats food for ...

Pros: good preset cook buttons. logical layout of the keypad. nice "built-in" kit available.
Cons: life expectancy.

After spending $250 for this beautiful GE Profile microwave in stainless steel, I was very disappointed that it lived only 22 months before blowing its circuitry. As with most small appliances today, repair costs are greater than its replacement cost...

Pros: Lots of one-touch features. Large interior accommodates large dishes.
Cons: Clear/Off button could be more prominent.

When my original GE microwave died after 15 years of flawless service it was a no-brainer that I would purchase another GE microwave. The JE1860 is a great product. It has one-touch features for popcorn, beverages, leftovers, vegetables, express...

Pros: Change power level while cooking - sensible add minute and express minute buttons. Turntable off/on
Cons: None - I could go on forever about what didn't like on other microwaves

After looking at 15 microwaves and bringing home 2 to try I finally stumbled on the GE 1860. While most of the others tried to bury me in 'menu-button-heaven' the GE just lets me get cooking with a couple of button pushes. 3 button pushes can get me 5 minutes at power-level 2 - try that on some of the multi-level menu ovens. The sensor cooking works for reheat and popcorn. Oven size is big enough for 13x9. You can turn off the turntable.

Pros: Express Cook and Add 30 Seconds features for quick time setting
Cons: Frequent turntable operation breakdown

In the nine months that we've owned this oven, the turntable mechanism has broken three times. The piece that supports the glass turntable--the "rotating ring assembly"--cracks at the stem and can't be turned. While the piece is easily replaceable, it's been annoying to deal with this problem so frequently.

Pros: Easy to use, clear function pad, great power.
Cons: none

Great microwave, easy to use, plenty of power and lots of great functions. Bought in 2000 started having problems with it losing power in year 2005, had it repaired (sensor) for $95.00. It lasted another year and a half. This time it was not repairable. Loved it while it worked. Almost seven years isn't too bad, wish my cell phones would last as long.

Pros: Large size and relatively cheap price.
Cons: Extra step to enter time, uneven cooking, relatively short life.

Had the same experience others have described.  I was cooking a bag of popcorn last night when the microwave (GE JE1860WH) started making a loud unusual noise along with sparks, smoke and a horrible smell.  I turned it off and set it outside to cool knowing I would soon be tossing it in the trash.  It was not my favorite microwave but it worked fine until last night.  My only complaints before last night were the fact that I had to hit the "time" button before entering the time followed by hitting "start".  I found this somewhat annoying over the past three years.  Granted, it has a quick button for 30 seconds, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 minutes but I prefer entering the time direct followed by hitting the start button.  Also, cooking was fairly uneven, even with a turntable, but I think this is typical of most microwaves.  I'm very disappointed the oven didn't last.  I've bought a number of GE appliances over the years and as an Architect, I have specified GE products routinely.  For my next microwave, I think I will sit GE "on the bench".

Pros: Easy to operate when it was working. Unit is attractive.
Cons: You need to be able to depend on a microwave. Don't buy this one.

This microwave just stopped working at 20 months. I called the product specialist and went through triage - yes there is power, it is plugged in, gave it time to reboot, etc. Then, GE offered to send someone out for $50 plus parts and labor. Shouldn't a microwave be expected to work for more than a year? Lousy product, no service!

Pros: Serves its purpose - very easy and accurate.
Cons: RUST.

I bought this several years ago. Within a short period of time I noticed what I thought was tomato sauce in the back where the back meets the bottom. Turns out it is rust. GE first tole me to buy microwave oven paint. I tried that but within a few days the rust was back. Contacted GE again and they offered me $50.

Pros: Works very well - when it isn't setting itself on fire.
Cons: Un-reliable,potentially dangerous! See other realistic reviews - just hasn't happened yet for the others.

Had the same sparking/fire burn out problem as in other reviews - with my 2002 oven. So I warily bought another one in 2005, in order to avoid buying another expensive trim kit (a real rip-off in itself, costs almost as much as the oven for a few pieces of plastic) The 2005 model did the same thing last week. GE is unresponsive as reported in other reviews. It is NOT an easy repair - there are other burned parts involved depending upon your own particular sparking-fire adventure. Have hauled the old GE JE2800 oven bought in 1985 out of the basement to once again fill in while this lemon gets buried.

Pros: Very large interior capacity
Cons: Stainless Steel button never stays clean Unattractive trim kit

After reading the reviews on here I can tell I got ripped off at paying $225 for this microwave PLUS $200 more for the trim kit. Anyway....it is a large microwave - I can fit large plates and bowls inside which is great. My biggest complaint is that the button you use to push the door open is Stainless Steel - so the microwave is constantly full of smudges & fingerprints. The button should have been made black or from some other material that hides your fingerprints! Also our sensor popcorn button burns the popcorn every single time. My last microwave was also GE & that popcorn button was perfect - so not sure what the difference is on this one. The trim kit - blech - it actually looked better without it. it's extremely industrial looking - grilled & vented all around which makes it look like ductwork to me.

Pros: Color......
Cons: Lack of dependability, GE not willing to stand behind product.

After 4 years of medium duty, this unit has failed and GE Service advises it cannot be repaired. The magnetron tube failed causing damage to the "burn wave guide, making the unit unrepairable, per GE. Although the Magnetron tube is under warranty for 10 years, and it caused the unit to fail, GE is unwilling to repair or replace. Buy at your own risk!