I can't verify how good the Back to Basics Blender Express is, but I've had fantastic success with their Smoothie Maker. And with Back to Basics you can order replacement parts for just about any of their products. I'm very happy with their products.

My blender is also an old Oster, got it as a wedding present in 1974, so it's been going strong for 35+ years. I seldom use it, though it got a good workout when the girls were still home, making chocolate malts and power shakes and fruit smoothies and salad dressings. Now I use the Kitchen Aid food processor for things like hummus and Jessica's lime chipotle marinade, it does a good job, better than the old Oster. I could go the rest of my life without a smoothie and I don't drink to speak of so the blended icy drinks the girls made in the summertime aren't an issue either. the Kitchenaid is harder to pour a chocolate malted out of without spilling, but it can do everything that I used to do in the blender, plus some. It's not that good at making bread or pastry, though I didn't do that in the blender either, and if I want big chunks of something like tomatoes for salsa, I still use a knife, the FP makes mush too quickly. Annie

Here is my favorite: 1 cup non fat yogurt 1 cup orange juice 1/4 cup Splenda 1 peeled & frozen banana 1 cup other frozen fruit of your choice (I have used blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, dark cherries, mango, etc.) Blend the first three ingredients. Add the banana & blend. Add the other fruit & blend. ENJOY! Makes 2 servings.

Belndtec: $205 to $844 Quoting prices without context is really pointless. Yes, there is a super expensive model. But that's not what most of us are talking about. That's the model that comes closest to the commercial models, it has a sound-dampening enclosure, and it comes with an impressive 10 year warranty. If that's what you want, you presumably know it, and why are you even bothering with this conversation :-) The model that everybody is talking about in this thread is more likely something like the Blendtec Total Blender Classic (I own an earlier version of this model and I really like it). According to camelcamelcamel.com, it sometimes goes on sale for as low as $180. Or if you need a few more features, then maybe the Blendtec Designer 625 for about $340. That's a bit more pricey, and I am not sure I personally see the value proposition. You do get a second jar (that's nice), but other than that you mostly pay for a nicer user interface. IMHO, probably not necessary, but some people obviously like it. There also are a few other models in the price range between these two. That's probably more where I'd start looking, if I was in the market for a replacement. So, in other words, we are talking about anything between $180 and around $340. That's obviously a lot more than a $30 Osterizer. But the only people who should even consider buying a fancy blender are probably using their blender several times a week. And then, $180 is really not all that outrageous. Within the first year, it costs about $1 per use -- and of course a good blender is expected to live much longer than a year. If the smoother blending and the larger variety of ingredients that you can blend are important to you, then go for one of these models. If you use your blender sparingly and not for anything challenging, then don't. It's as easy as that.