I adore my Oster.
I got a KA blender but it is not "v" shaped enough and did not work well for me.

Love our VitaMix (Professional Series 5000, model VM0103). They are not cheap, though. Best price I could find was on eBay--bought new, not used. Great at ice crushing and smooooth smoothies :-) Never used it for juicing but apparently it works really well for that, also. Has a 7 yr warranty.

Cleaning is easy--has directions to add a few drops of dish detergent + water and blend to a frothy mix, rinse and lay out to dry.

Looked online; looks like the 5000 has been upgraded to the 5200. (bought mine in 2007)

Here is a link that might be useful: Vitamix 5000/5200

Blendtec, hands down best blender I have ever used.

( I can see our resident populist rolling eyes at spendy blender thread LOL)

They have them at my local Costco from time to time a bit cheaper.

These are the kind they use at Starbucks and Jamba Juice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blendtec

Another BlendTec fan. I got mine from Everythingkitchens.com. Our Costco only has VitaMIx on occasion, which are just as good, I think, but more expensive for as much as you get with the BlendTec, and the BT has a wider, shorter jar for easier clean out and fitting under upper cabs.

I have a Bosch built-in system set into my counter that includes a blender, food processor, mixer, slicer, and a grain mill. It works fine for just about everything I need it for, but were I to be on the hunt for a standalone blender that won't break, I would get either a Blendtec or Vita-mix commercial model off of ebay or a liquidator. Home blenders of the Oster/Hamilton Beach kind are cheap junk. The last one I bought starts to smell like a melting set of barber clippers every time I make a milkshake in it. Pure junk.

The Bosch I have has NO trouble blending about anything I can find to put into it.

We use a KA immersion blender for shakes and smoothies - it does a great job right in the glass and simple to clean.

Mike

I need to know too! I used a cuisinart briefly (a week) this summer and crossed it off my list. It was IMPOSSIBLE to pour from...more margarita on the counter than in the glass. It also didn't work terribly well.

ISO my magic blender, and no you don't cost 600 dollars :-)

One vote for the KA (not the immersion). Use it nearly daily for drinks in the summer. I think I paid ~$100 for it.

vita mix. after throwing out a bunch of $100 mixers at the cafe, switched to a vitamix for protein shakes. it got used way more than home use and worked like a charm. bought it at costco.

LOVE my Vita Mix. I use it all the time. It is definitely in my "kitchen appliance hall of fame."

I have a few to check out now! My neighbor threw the Ninja Professional model in the mix. 1000 watts but plastic container??? Anyone familiar with that one?

I saw a VitaMix demo at Costco and I was impressed but HOLY COW they're $$$. I had just bought a new KA Mixer so I knew dh would have a hissy if I brought another super expensive appliance in the house that soon after the mixer.

I'll check out the BlendTec..
Thanks. Any more you can think of??

I have an inherited osterizer with a SS (what do you call it "carafe"?) which is absolutely necessary for icy drinks. Glass seems to melt the ice too fast. It also has the super-heavy glass carafe which I never use. My mom bought this unit at least 20 years ago. I have no idea if the new ones are as long-lived, but one would think _not_.
Casey