I own a simple little $20 blender. It has six buttons and it does not make very much, it does not even make things that I would imagine it could make very well. The drinks are foamy and the smoothies are chunky, and you can forget about solid foods. The Pro 500 on the other had puts my blender to shame. It is significantly more expensive but given the fact that they are warranted for 7 years and its phenomenal functionality, makes it a more practical purchase. To speak on Vita-mix’s behalf my grandmother had a Vita-mix when I was a child and she still uses today. I remember that thing from over 15 years ago!

The Pro 500 offers variable speed knob still offers the same signature Vita-mix versatility like many of their blenders with extreme consistency and smoothness, the slower settings being better for more course foods. Secondly, the feature that really sets it above the blenders in its class are its 3 preprogrammed buttons: hot soups, frozen desserts and smoothies. The Pro 500 and its functions make it so easy to follow the recipe book included with the blender. Simply select the recipe and walk away. Although it only has three preprogrammed settings, don’t be surprised at its flexibility such as when you are making peanut butter on your frozen drink setting. This machine has an all new pulse setting that allows for nice customization and is perfect for things like salsa. The recipe book that comes with the Pro 500 is so simple. Pick a recipe, pour in your ingredients and select the preprogram setting and it walk away. The three preprogram button times are 45sec for the frozen drinks, 60secs deserts, and 270secs for the soup. They continually ramp up from low speeds to high and offer the walk away convenience all while being quick, easy and delicious. I never thought you could make so many things in a blender! It will heat soups, literally produces enough entropy to heats the soup in the blender to a steaming point. Finally cleaning them is easy as well. One drop of dish liquid, fill it about half way with hot water and put it on the smoothie setting, 45 seconds later it’s clean.