Little vent - GE Monogram service in my area sucks, Currently engaging in twitter war to get our built-in fridge (aka $6.5K orig cost) fixed - completely died 2 wks ago, was diagnosed at needing a bunch of sealed components (luckily my warrantee covers parts at this pt but will still cost $800 or so in labor to fix)…and now I have to wait an additional MONTH to get repair done. Take a very close look at the warranties and GE has cut back tremendously on what is covered past one year according to the svc tech.
I have and like the 4 burner with side knobs. If you have occasions where you need a 5th burner, have you considered a portable induction cooktop like the one below?
https://www.costco.com/Tramontina-3-piece-Induction-Cooking-System.product.100319914.html
I have the five burner with the griddle middle and I still have the extra type of induction (not that brand, mine cost about $30 from costco years ago) as in the last post LOL, I love that thing so much that my next stove top will be induction. My GE profile gas burners are a real disappointment. My DH has even adjusted the gas flow and the big burner is still an underperformer.
I think a 4 burner with two high output burners is more practical. It’s difficult to brown meat and boil a pot of water with just a single one. Same applies if you are stir frying and making something else. You also need a low output burner for sauces and reductions, and a mid-range one that will heat a smaller pan quickly.
I’d measure your current arrangement of pans and pot and see how they would fit.
My mother had knobs on the side and I could never remember which burners they controlled. I probably would eventually have gotten used to it. I’ve always had a slide in stove, so the idea of worrying about kids being able to reach the burners is foreign to me.
I liked the idea of the griddle in the center and using it for space for a spoon etc but it looks like this line only has the griddle for the left had burners.
It sounds like this is really a personal preference. Here is the whole line: http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-category/cooktops?r=12&p=1&Cabinet%20Width%20(inches)=30+in.+(Standard)&Fuel%20Type=Gas&ascdesc=d&sortBy=price
I can’t figure out why some of them are north of $1200 - a backlit dial is not worth it IMHO. And some of the lower end grates don’t look as substantial as I’d like.
I differ from @TooOld4School on having 2 high output burners. My family often uses the high out put one for things other than bringing a pot to boil etc and it’s just too high if they don’t turn it way down. The regular output is suitable for most sauteeing and browning. I only use the high one for boiling water or possibly searing something.
I very rarely use 4 burners at once, but with the single grates pans don’t fit as well as I think they would on continuous ones.
I would love a cooktop with continuous grates. I have several things I make (pan sauces after roasting, socca, frittata) that require a roasting pan to straddle two burners. It’s not a problem, but it would be easier to balance if there was a single grate that covered all the burners. Since the grates themselves conduct heat when they are hot, I imagine the cooking would be a bit more even, too.
Right now, I’ve got a giant Viking range (installed by the previous owners) that does everything but vacuum. Still, I envy people with the continuous grate!
The tri-ring burner is the most useful burner. Mine is located at the front right. I am right handed so I love it. I wonder if lefties didn’t like it as much. The cooktops you show with a tri-ring burner has it placed in the middle. I wouldn’t want to be working over two hot pots in front to use a middle center burner.
This is the first range I have had with a good simmer burner. A simmer burner is essential.
I am a former engineer so I hate design flaws.
@MaterS what do you mean by “tri-ring” burner? The heavier output one? That can also dial down to regular? IME the high output one doesn’t do a great job on middle or low heat. I agree that it is an odd placement to have the power burner in the center. My current (4 burner) has it in lower right.
Are you getting the black or stainless steel? I regret buying a stainless steel cooktop as it has been a real PIA to clean and keep clean, more so than any other I’ve owned.
“tri-ring” burner?<<<<<
As in three three rings of gas, like a proper wok burner?
This is a tri-ring burner.
When you set it to low, only the inner burner is on and great for a simmer burner. When you set it to high the inner and outer burners are on. Great for high heat.
I have the range in stainless. I may have had 6 ranges in my life. This is the easiest to cleam.
What kind of issues do you have with cleaning stainless, @chercheur? I find it pretty easy and I don’t use any fancy products.
Maybe it’s because I have boys, and I’m letting them cook (to hopefully make it easier on their future wives!). I guess I’ve done a poor job of teaching them to clean the cooktop as I’ll walk in the kitchen and notice burnt on food. I’ve tried everything (special products for stainless, a diluted paste of Bar Keeper’s Friend, etc.) but it takes so much elbow grease for even one little spot! I need to restrict their use to a countertop induction cooktop! 
If I have a spill that isn’t easily wiped up, I just spray it with windex or some other multi-purpose cleaner and leave a damp rag or sponge on top of it and let it sit for awhile. Come back later and it’s much easier to clean off. For really baked on stuff, you might have to do it twice.
To avoid spills and such in the first place, make sure your boys are using the right sized pots and pans. I think most spills and splatters happen because the cooking vessel is too small for the job.
Thank you for the reply @doschicos
I think their main problem is inattentiveness (think cell phone) but perhaps you are correct. Maybe it’s time for a few more lessons!
Or make them clean it and they’ll be more careful in the future. Glad they are cooking, though! My son is an excellent cook. We’re still working on the thorough cleaning part. 
@Sybylla --post 22- what brand induction burner from Costco?
Ah @MaterS - I learned something new! A tri-ring burner. I think I’d have to go up to a higher model to get that. The one that I was looking at (~$8-900) only has a power burner. But now I see what you are paying for in the $1k+ models.
I am looking at a black top. My other appliances are all black and even if I replace them with stainless etc eventually, I think the black cooktop will still work. I have ubatuba granite and the cooktop visually disappears into the counter.
I don’t know, not the current version. Amazon have a ton too, I know from previous years that this is an xmas item at costco and it gets discounted after xmas, but the current version in my costco is still over $60, but they are selling it with a pan for some daft reason.