Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My wife just purchased the Cuisinart TOB-100 compact digital toaster using her account, as another Black and Decker toaster died. We've had three Black and Decker toasters in a row over the last 15 years or so because they have been a great value, however each successive unit has failed more rapidly. We decided to spend a bit more money for the stainless steel look and the Cusinart brand (hoping for lasting quality). We found that we did not want a huge toaster and noticed that this one is similar in size as before. We made our buying decision when we learned that the TOB-100 was also digital and the price was right at $100. Since this is an early review (looks like the first), we decided to give the TOB-100 4-stars, however it could earn 5-stars later when we update our review and have more experience with the product. Pros: 1. What you see in the pictures is what you're going to get. The TOB-100 looks roomy and the unit and accessories look beautiful. There were no unexpected or unpleasant surprises when it arrived at home. 2. Easy to see and read display 3. The buttons work and press really nicely 4. Like us, the kids find the toaster very easy to use and control 5. Preheating is very convenient as the toaster notifies you with a beep when it has reached the correct temperature. Baking and Broiling is really great on this machine. 6. Three beeps when the heating cycle is complete. Not too loud not too soft. 7. Accurate digital timing does not allow the toaster to stay on longer than intended 8. Shading control and keep warm are very nice. On a regular old toaster you figure out how dark you like your toast over time, but it is not always the same. The digital control on the TOB-100 make this unit more precise. Cons: 1. The dial seems a bit sensitive to us. This requires getting used to. When you turn the dial it scrolls faster than you might expect... but works fine. 2. I said the beep volume was fine for us, however I could easily understand that it is not right for someone else. A very noisy room or kitchen could be problematic. 3. When the TOB-100 is done or you cancel using it, the button's lights stay on and some of them continue flashing for 2 minutes before it goes back to standby mode. If a toaster operation is canceled why does it need to flash for 2 more minutes? 10 seconds maybe, 30 seconds on the outset, but 2 minutes seems to be a long time for seemingly no reason. I can't help but think that this is a waste of energy. However the TOB-100 looks like it is trying to catch your eye if you don't hear the beeps when it completes a heating cycle. 4. Display brightness. We think it is the right amount of brightness, but again it might be too much for others. 5. I'd like to see a user setting preference control in the TOB-100. For a toaster with a retail listing price of $185, this seems reasonable. A user should be able to control the volume, brightness, and standby flashing time. This is a great toaster and is 5-star worthy. However we did notice these little issues and think it is enough to knock off a star at this point. We might add back the star later (with time and use). If we had to do it over knowing what we know now, we would still buy the TOB-100 Compact Digital Toaster Over again. We are very happy with this purchase, and we think that many others will be too. ***November 11, 2015 Update*** We are still very happy with the toaster and it is running like a champ so we are revising our rating to a 5 star from the earlier 4 stars... since 4.5 is not allowed. Sometimes we do have issues with the tray getting stuck and sometimes it does not pull out right. After heavy use of the toaster we experience some condensation on the inside of the glass door. We are used to the controls, lights, and beeping, so no issues there (I was overly critical when it was new). Bagels toast excellent! Give it a shot, and if you're not happy return it... that's why you are shopping on Amazon.