My family loves popcorn! So when my old Stir Crazy died, I was looking for a new popper and thought the Dash popper would fit the bill. I've used it 8-10 times and still have issues with old maids and unpopped kernels. Also, the handles got ridiculously hot when flipping the popper over. The old Stir Crazy never got that hot on the handles. I wasn't sure if the old maids were due to the Dash or old popcorn, but after receiving a new Stir Crazy for Christmas, I can tell you it is definitely the Dash popper. I think part of the issue with the Dash is that the heating plate is not deep enough to accommodate a full batch of popcorn kernels and those kernels are not heated properly. I'd stick with the Stir Crazy and stay away from the Dash.