Black & Decker BL6000 ProBlend Blender

Comment: I really like this blender until it just quit. I used it for frozen drinks and it worked great. Then it just quit. I've also tried one called The Wave and it works even better. However, it doesn't seem to make as much at a time.

Comment: Have had this blender for about 5 months. Works just fine. No frills, but plenty of power. Be very careful if using it to make smoothies with frozen fruit immediatly after removing from a dishwasher. Ours cracked. It was apparently too warm. Expect to pay black and decker $26.00+, over half of the original price for the whole kit and cabootle, just to replace the glass.

Comment: We bought one of these blenders and really liked the way it blended frozen drinks until it just completely died. We thought it was a fluke so we bought another one. That one worked really well until it broke as well. Same problem - again completely dead. The motor just can't seem to handle frozen drinks very well.

Comment: Is there such a thing as a quasi-permanent blender, expecially for those of us dependent on our daily ice and smoothie fix? I doubt it. Several years' use is probably a reasonable expectation. In any case, this Black & Decker model may be the closest I've come to blending heaven.

I had been content with my more expensive Oster model and planned to replace it (lesson: if you put the jar in the freezer, wait for it to thaw out a bit before turning on the motor). Unfortunately, Walmart didn't carry the Oster (Amazon prices are usually lower but that smoothie couldn't wait another day), so I somewhat reluctantly settled on this B&D. I had previously gone to the single-switch Oster to eliminate the problem of gooped-up push buttons. The B&D with its ingenious touch pad is equally "goop proof," and it mows down the biggest ice cubes with relish. (So why is it being discontinued?)

[I'm afraid I've discovered why this machine is currently unavailable: It was subject to a call-back due to reports of broken blades. I'm still high on the machine and would advise being patient until B&D solves the problem. Until then I'm drinking my smoothies through a straw.]