I prefer hand mixers but could never bring myself to buy an expensive one as I bake very rarely anymore.  Since I purchased this one, I have used it several times a week--even for things that don't require a mixer--such as the whisk attachment for random other stuff.  This is a great mixer--the cord is hardy and it has definitive speeds rather than having just a "lower high and high" setting as most cheap ones do. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.]