This isn't just a blender, it's a wonderful drink maker. You do need to read the instructions, unlike a blender. But once you do, this this cranks out the most wonderful margaritas and frozen drinks you can imagine. Unlike what some of the other reviewers said, it has adjustments to make your drinks as thick aas a snow cone or thin with just a touch snowy ice as you like. It of course shaves the ice so you get a snow like texture not hard ground ice like a blender makes. Our big test was a party of around 150 people. During the course of the evening we causally made around 500 all perfect margaritas . Everyone was very impressed and I bet at least 20 of those people ended up buying one within a month. Everywhere we go now our friends have these makers. Truely the bomb ! Can't imagine a world without them any longer. Our Kitchen Aid and top of the line Warning blenders, we love them too .. but they are out of the frozen drink making business now.