Elyse, I know nothing about the Windcrest brand, but in my opinion just the timers aren't worth an extra $1000. My Miele cooktop hasn't scratched in the few months I've had it, but I would think the textured would do a better job at hiding possible scratches. Not sure about the cleaning, mine is super easy to clean. The only other thing I would look at is the number of power levels.

You are the queen of bargain finds!

Erika

Yep Erika... I have a rep of being a super shopper. I have the luxury of time since we haven't even demo'd yet! Plus we're very lucky that we're doing this while living at my house.

One had 11 power levels and one had 12. I forget which is which. How often do you use the power boost? Have you used the timers much? I imagine it's real convenient when cooking rice for instance. Right now I just set my oven timer.

Any more Windcrest owners?

Elyse, I use the power boost every time I need to boil water for pasta or whatever, so quite often. I normally use my rice cooker to make rice, but I did use the timer when I was making Spanish rice on my cooktop. Worked like a charm!

I did a google search and it looks like sienna2007, nanapeg and kailleanm all have Windcrest cooktops. Not sure if any of them are still around. I can't seem to link to the search page, but this is what I typed into google to get the results:

site:ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl windcrest induction

Let me know what you find out, as well as how flush the things are. I don't like the Miele standing so proud of the counter. I'm spoiled by my '80s induction cooktop which is framed but almost totally flush.

I do remember a few comments on the Windcrest in the appliance forum. Good ones, if I recall correctly.

fori, did you know there's a way to install the Miele cooktop flush with the counter? Check out the install instructions on their website.

Good to know! I looked but didn't see it. Guess I'll look again! Is yours flush? You have a stainless counter, right?

Don't know how I missed that; it's pretty obvious! It does look like it requires some precision in making the cutout, though.

Nope, mine isn't flush, it's 1/8" above the countertop. Yes, it's a stainless counter.

Erika... I just did a scroll through your album so I could see a pic of how the Miele looks sitting 1/8" above your counter. The intended quick peek turned into a half hour drool session as I lingered over the pics of your breathtakingly perfect gorgeous beautiful kitchen. What an amazingly fantastic space! We look at so many kitchens that I forget what some of them look like. You Calcutta marble... oh man... so gorgeous. Is it honed? Holding up to all your cooking/baking with no real issues? Me thinks I need some Calcutta marble. I don't think I'll be able to steal a deal on that but at least I will have saved enough elsewhere to splurge on it. I can't even imagine how $$ it's going to be and I'm fairly certain it's one of those things that I just never divulge to my DH either.

Thanks Erika!

And yeah now I'm jealous, but a little comforted in that I'm planning many similar materials for my kitchen. On a much much smaller scale of course. I hope you like it as much as the rest of us do! :)