Men of MFP, I want your opinions!

A motor-boating meat tenderizer.

are you serious? friend me and I can help you out

i'm a big fan of technology. i want things that sync up with each other. a food scale that would hook up to the MFP food diary? yes please.

i like things being sleek and compact, but not miniaturized. i don't want it to be huge either. i guess the word i'm looking for is sturdy.

oooh, also, sometimes i'm loading my plate on the food scale, and it's a normal sized dinner plate, and not i can't see the controls. not only that, the plate is resting on the non-scale parts of the machine, throwing the weight off. what if the scale had a bit of a scissor lift capability, where you unlatch it, and it rises up, re-locking in place. and then you weigh your food!

Whatever it is. .make it into a game. . so a coffeemaker where you have to toss the k-cup into the a slot from across the room. .

Not a guy but I think I can offer you some insight...

First, you're barking up the wrong tree. Most guys don't do gadgets and if they do, it's because a woman in their life bought it for them.

Men SO do gadgets. Just maybe not kitchen ones.

A smoothie maker that is easy to clean ANYONE would buy though, to be fair.

Hi!

I'm an industrial design student, and I am about to design a line of health food and clean-eating appliances geared to sell to the men of the healthy living movement. My research so far shows that many appliances geared toward personal health are either androgynous or feminine in appearance, and a bit expensive. Some even look like something you'd find in a medical office.

What features would you want to see in products aimed at your demographic? Both visually and technologically. I am focusing on designing a food scale, a single-serving smoothie blender, and an olive oil mister.

Thanks for your replies, you're all such a great help.

For me it's all about functionality - I could care less about the color palette.

For the food scale: have the display extend from the weighing surface... for instance, the pet peeve I have with my current scale is that when I put a plate on the scale (and zero it out), the plate extends over the display and I have to change my viewing angle or "hold" the reading so I can move the plate. Extend the display so I can read it regardless of what I put on it. Maybe have a multi-tare function where you can store various vessels and often-used weights. Metric and Standard units (ounces, and pounds/ounces).

A single serving smoothie blender seems more like a novelty buy than a practical one. Why would I buy a single serve blender over a regular one? I will say this: don't use buttons for variable speeds. No one understands or cares what the difference is between "blend" and "chop". Use a dial and then the user can adjust to the exact speed they need. Also, do NOT use a round container. Multiple straight sides are best for blending. A more quiet, yet powerful motor would be nice too.

I would never buy a dedicated "mister" for olive oil. I would go to Walmart, the $1 store, or Harbor Freight and get generic spray bottle(s) that aren't priced higher because they say they can be used for a specific item. Sure, you could make the spray heads various novelty items, but I will always choose function over form when it comes to kitchen tools. IF you were to make a mister, I would encourage a larger intake that can handle viscous and non-viscous liquids alike. It has various settings for misting and stream. And most importantly: it doesn't leak. Kids knock things over and don't always put things back.

There's my .02. Coming from the cook in our house.

If you'd like me to elaborate or you need more feedback, feel free to message me.

Steve

There is a rich history of gender-based marketing fails that disagrees with you. Particularly in the last decade. Look no further than Bic walking back their lady pens last year after that marketing fiasco. Or the dozens of various tech products designed for women. Likewise with the number of men's H&B products that fail. Sure, a few of those survive because they have merit as products. That happens in spite of their marketing. As a rule, this type of thinking is fading fast from the marketing landscape because it simply doesn't move product.

In other words, it takes a special kind of insecure man to buy a product of lesser quality simply because it has "Fer Menz!!!" on the package.

Your personal contempt for the preferences and gender expression of others does not impact the accuracy of my observations.

And as I said before, a square design is my preference. A square food scale with an attachable hard lid to protect the scale would be great.

There is a rich history of gender-based marketing fails that disagrees with you. Particularly in the last decade. Look no further than Bic walking back their lady pens last year after that marketing fiasco. Or the dozens of various tech products designed for women. Likewise with the number of men's H&B products that fail. Sure, a few of those survive because they have merit as products. That happens in spite of their marketing. As a rule, this type of thinking is fading fast from the marketing landscape because it simply doesn't move product.

In other words, it takes a special kind of insecure man to buy a product of lesser quality simply because it has "Fer Menz!!!" on the package.

Your personal contempt for the preferences and gender expression of others does not impact the accuracy of my observations.

That's what I thought.

How about a food scale that talks to you? "You're smart enough, you're strong enough and dog-gonit people like you."

There is a rich history of gender-based marketing fails that disagrees with you. Particularly in the last decade. Look no further than Bic walking back their lady pens last year after that marketing fiasco. Or the dozens of various tech products designed for women. Likewise with the number of men's H&B products that fail. Sure, a few of those survive because they have merit as products. That happens in spite of their marketing. As a rule, this type of thinking is fading fast from the marketing landscape because it simply doesn't move product.

In other words, it takes a special kind of insecure man to buy a product of lesser quality simply because it has "Fer Menz!!!" on the package.

Your personal contempt for the preferences and gender expression of others does not impact the accuracy of my observations.

That's what I thought.

Your rhetorical prowess defies all comparison.

how about a scale that looks like an industrial scale for weighing heavy equipment diamond cut metal pads , don't call it a smoothie men don't drink smoothies they drink protein shakes. or boosters. olive oil should be called internal lube or something like that , fat burning torch fluid. don't add too much stuff to it and cheapen it up for a fathers day gag gift. needs to be small enough to slip back in your desk maybe collapse able, and should also have weight to calorie conversion for generic meats and grains sugars , bread. that feature would be awesome as well. feel free to email me if you like more ideas.

Whatever you make, brand it "Special Forces".

A Tactical Juicer has potential.

Not a guy but I think I can offer you some insight...

First, you're barking up the wrong tree. Most guys don't do gadgets and if they do, it's because a woman in their life bought it for them.

Men SO do gadgets. Just maybe not kitchen ones.

A smoothie maker that is easy to clean ANYONE would buy though, to be fair.

I should have been clear... men don't do gadgets that aren't sold at Home Depot or the car/fishing/sports section of Walmart. :laugh:

What? I love gadgets on any way shape or size. Sports, auto, kitchen, whatever. My favorite kitchen appliances? I have a mandolier, a soda maker, a keurig.

If a device has Bluetooth or wireless and syncs with my phone out computer I automatically love it. My Garmin gps uploads my workouts to my computer with ease. I love controlling my Xbox and cable tv with my phone.

Don't generalize.