At my ex-company, I've always commented how well designed was microwave because it always end up in the same orientation as the start.

Turns out, it was just that it did a complete turnaround on a time segment (5 seconds) and it was easiest to input time in 5 second intervals.

Still, good, if not great design.

I would say it is great design.

Why? Because there is an also very important requirement: when the user wants to get his stuff out let him do it immediately: do not waste his time. This way they did not compromise this important requirement while gave a solution to the other problem as well.

But was that intentional design or just a happy accident and was that "feature" recoqnized as such and institutionalized?

Agreed, just didn't want to edit the post.

Funny! I often enter the time not divisible by 5. Say, the package says 4-5 minutes, I can press 444 to get to 4:44, it's easier.

(Well, maybe it is me who is funny, I don't know.)

That's exactly how our very old Sanyo microwave works. It turns off the power but keeps spinning until it reaches the initial position.

Thanks!

A later comment points out a microwave that does this (also the one ricardobeat mentioned):

»My 1990’s Sanyo Microwave has a “boomerang turntable”, meaning the turntable always returns to its starting point. It turns for a few seconds after the oven stops, until a micro-switch, driven by a cam on the shaft, is tripped.

The period or revolution happens to be exactly 12 seconds. (Has a synchronous motor?) I know this because any multiple of 12 seconds means the turntable stops immediately.«

Jack Donaghy is commenting on tech blogs now.