I've had the Vitamix a few months now and it's performance isn't as up to par as reviews I've read and seen. It seems pieces really have to be chopped up, whether they are fruits or vegetables in order for it to start and stay blending, as well as, a good deal of liquid. If I'd had this experience with a blender at a friend's house or somehow had been able to have this blender on loan, it wouldn't have motivated me to purchase. Maybe this model isn't as good as others but I'm doing basic simple things with it, so I'd expect better results.