Nisshin: more speedy spaghetti

I can't tell if Nisshin has taken a step forward or a step back with its newest pasta from its "Mama" brand. It's a dry spaghetti (pictured left) that can be prepared in a microwave in just five minutes by adding a small amount of water and heating in a microwave-safe container. One can only assume that Nisshin sees incremental opportunity in a segment that cooks at home—but doesn't have any pots and pans—or one that is just too lazy or rushed to spend the 10 minutes it takes to boil some noodles. I'm guessing it's the former, since the Mama brand already offers a "quick boiling" spaghetti (right) that cooks faster still—in just three minutes.