I love this and have replaced my counter top blender with it.  The individual drink cup is perfect for quick smoothies with minimal clean-up and the pre-set buttons seem to be programed perfectly for smoothie drinks/bowls.  I was surprised at how well it worked.  My previous blender was a Blendtec, which I still love and will use if needed, but this one takes up less space, is easier to clean, and meets my more daily needs.  It's still loud but not more so than the other blender.