After returning a Sharp microwave combi a number of times due to faults, I decided to try this Hotpoint version as it was the nearest in size and apparent functions...nowhere near as it turns out.

Where to start.
1) This model has a fan oven function called Forced Air, its actually just the grill that provides the heat not an indirect heat source. This is important as you cannot use the oven during pre-heat as it grills your food to a black crisp while it pre-heats.

So you are probably thinking, don't use the preheat function?

You can't!!

EVERYTIME you want to use the oven function it has an 8-10 minute preheat which you have to wait for (and listen out for the ping) BEFORE you can put your food in.

If you decide you want to increase the temperature to speed up cooking, guess what... you can't. You have to TAKE THE FOOD OUT, wait 8-10 minutes for the preheat function ( by which time it is cold) and then put it back in!!!

If during cooking you want to DECREASE the temperature from say 200 to 170 guess what? It needs to PREHEAT DOWN in temperature (!?!?) for 8-10 minutes.

The pre-heat function if not based on any measurement of the oven temperature, but just a compulsory pain in the neck if you want to start, increase or decrease cooking temperatures. Who at Hotpoint thought this was a great idea?

On my old combi pre-heat was a separate choice to any cooking function, totally in your control when you wished to use the function.

2) The oven temp only goes up to 200 degrees, my last one went up to 250, I just presumed all ovens did. Now there are a number of dishes that require temperatures above 200 that have to be guessed, (after the pre-heat).

3) It has functions called Chef Menu and Dual crisp fry, Special menu and Crisp Fry, which just burn food.

The instructions are so bad that as far as I can tell, on these functions it combines microwaves with the grill fan. Even following the vague instructions, it just burns every thing or the f

After returning a Sharp microwave combi a number of times due to faults, I decided to try this Hotpoint version as it was the nearest in size and apparent functions...nowhere near as it turns out.Where to start.1) This model has a fan oven function called Forced Air, its actually just the grill that provides the heat not an indirect heat source. This is important as you cannot use the oven during pre-heat as it grills your food to a black crisp while it pre-heats.So you are probably thinking, don't use the preheat function?You can't!!EVERYTIME you want to use the oven function it has an 8-10 minute preheat which you have to wait for (and listen out for the ping) BEFORE you can put your food in.If you decide you want to increase the temperature to speed up cooking, guess what... you can't. You have to TAKE THE FOOD OUT, wait 8-10 minutes for the preheat function ( by which time it is cold) and then put it back in!!!If during cooking you want to DECREASE the temperature from say 200 to 170 guess what? It needs to PREHEAT DOWN in temperature (!?!?) for 8-10 minutes.The pre-heat function if not based on any measurement of the oven temperature, but just a compulsory pain in the neck if you want to start, increase or decrease cooking temperatures. Who at Hotpoint thought this was a great idea?On my old combi pre-heat was a separate choice to any cooking function, totally in your control when you wished to use the function.2) The oven temp only goes up to 200 degrees, my last one went up to 250, I just presumed all ovens did. Now there are a number of dishes that require temperatures above 200 that have to be guessed, (after the pre-heat).3) It has functions called Chef Menu and Dual crisp fry, Special menu and Crisp Fry, which just burn food.The instructions are so bad that as far as I can tell, on these functions it combines microwaves with the grill fan. Even following the vague instructions, it just burns every thing or the food has the chewy microwaved texture.4) The "helpful" functions above are used with a "speci

First Microwave misted up so you couldn't see inside. Second sounded like a lawnmower. Third blew the fuses in the house when in oven mode. Hughes Direct were good at exchange/replacement but in the end refunded. Very disappointed with this item. I had such high hope for it.