I can’t help feel like the agile in business mentality is somewhat to blame for this. Focusing on getting core functionality sprint after sprint is great for adding new features but there is never enough time to go back and fix annoyances that are minor. I was looking for a new microwave recently and since I’m a nerd I was looking into ones with smart features. So I read some reviews and guess what? The smart microwaves are buggy! Sure the core functionality works but the UI is terrible and prone to crashing. Another example is the new combo washer dryer my parents bought. Dryers have had a beeper go off at the end of the cycle since forever. So this dryer has the electronic equivalent of the old turny knobs and yes core functions all work fine. It dries clothes. It beeps when it’s done. But unlike every other dryer I’ve used before it keeps beeping forever. You have to open the door to make it stop. Oh but the washing machine in the same unit? It beep 3 times then stops. Different development teams I guess. I’m screaming inside just thinking about it. The only fix (and this was from the manufacturer support forum) is to cut the wire to the speaker.
I’m sure you’re right. I’m probably projecting issues I see in my own organization since we switched to agile. Or attempted to. Or are continuously trying to attempt to.
For the microwave I was focused on Whirlpool since they had gotten high reliability rankings from a well-known reviewal magazine. However I did look at other higher end brands too and they all seem to have issues in the smart appliance space. I ended up buying a basic model instead.
The washer/dryer is a Frigidaire laundry center. (Stacked washer/dryer)
