Product review (4 stars): Good basic dish washer for the price
Our last two dishwashers have been budget GE models (the first lasted for 20 years, the second blew out after 6 years. No more GE for us), so that is the basis for comparison. I can't speak for longevity, since we just bought and installed the Whirlpool DU850, but having run a full load on the normal wash, non-heated dry cycle, it worked just fine. Plates were clean, no spots on the glasses (without using rinse aid)and all the silverware (including a pair of long tongs)stayed in place. The rack system holds more dishes more securely than the GE did. It lacks no mechanical features that, for our purposes, would justify additional cost.

A problem for some may be the noise factor. It is noisy, but no more so than the comparably priced GE models. Of course it is not as quiet as top of the line models that cost hundreds of dollars more. For our needs...my husband and I are empty nest-ers who only run the thing a couple times a week and can just close the door of our tiny NYC kitchen to block the noise for a half hour or so...we'd rather keep the money. On the other hand, if you have to run the washer every day and your kitchen functions as more than just a place to cook, a model that has better sound insulation is something that should be considered.

Aesthetically, its not bad looking. We bought the black but for another hundred bucks the model comes with a stainless steel door. Again, we didn't see a need to spend more for design features like hidden controls and a stainless interior.

All in all, we are happy with the purchase and will remain happy as long as the machine gets a load of dishes clean on the lowest energy cycle.

LFNYC