I bought this blender three months ago when my other blender started leaking. I had been thinking of a higher end blender but I thought it would not be worth the extra cost. I decided to give it a try after more for the warranty than for any claims of ability. I have been pleasantly surprised! I had been making green smoothies all summer but I found them unpleasant to drink because they weren't smooth and tasted somewhat bitter. The Blendtec makes my green smoothies actually smooth and a little foamy and the processing actually make them
taste better too. I have used the blender 5+ times a week, mostly for smoothies, and it has been great. The biggest drawback is the noise. I think when the summer returns, I will need to close the kitchen window to avoid waking the neighbors next door because it is that loud.