I've had my Vitamix for 5 years and it is quite simply one of the best purchases I've ever made.  I use it every day for my daily protein smoothie, and it flawlessly liquifies greens, carrots, apples, bananas, berries, protein powder and vitamins into a tasty blend of goodness.  My wife uses it for soups, sauces, and mixing, and the results are delicious.  We use fresh, natural ingredients, and the industrial strength power of the blender makes short work of them.  It's perfectly stable, with a dial to adjust speed that provides total control over the process.  We've had other blenders, but this is far and away the best.  You can spend less money on a lesser product, but when you look at the cost of this product over decades (I've read many reviews of people who've had these for years and years), the warranty, the support of the company, and the unbeatable quality, why settle for that?  This is truly the "gold standard" of blenders.