The Ninja  TWISTi Blender system has been great!  I've been experimenting with making shakes for years and this blender really brings the consistency to a new level.  Having the tamper built in saves me from having to routinely pause to do it manually - genius!  No matter what I mix in, I can control the smoothness - creamy or with small pieces remaining for taste with a single button thanks to Texture Control.  Even frozen fruit disintegrates perfectly chilling my shakes and becoming smooth and crushing ice is easy.  The cups allow me to grab a shake a run without resulting in lots of items to wash and even with the pitcher attached, the entire unit fits under the cabinets.  The unit is solid and substantial - I'm confident it will serve me well for years to come.  It's a hit!