I had a top-end Oster blender somewhere around 2001. It didn't last very long because we were doing Milkshakes (Ice cream, milk, and frozen huckleberries, and boy was it good!) the blender lasted about 3 rounds of milkshakes before it burned up. but sure was worth it! Now we there are 2 blenders which can handle homemade milkshakes and ice cubes. The older blenders didn't have enough power, or enough blades.

900W. fast! fruit smoothies in 8 seconds (2-4 apples, 1-2 bananas, orange, 1/2c water). makes shakes in 3 seconds (your favorite fruit, some large helpings of ice cream, and 1/2C milk) and won't burn up doing it! does ice cubes, but they must not be melty. this model, at least, does not destroy the food enzymes like some blenders do which advertise to cook soup, it goes at a low enough speed and won't burn them up. lots of sharp blades (removable), but not super-sharp. I suggest that you clean the blender immediately after use. you need to scrape apple bits off of the pitcher with your fingernails or with a washcloth, even after washing the inside. I have no idea if apple-bits build up in your sink pipes with lots of smoothies, I always wonder.

1000W. fast! 3-speed. lots of sharp blades (I think removable), also has a ball. I suggest that you clean the blender immediately after use. you need to scrape apple bits off of the pitcher, even after rinsing.

this is stuff you can do with your blender.

this is stuff you can do with your blender.

this at some times may require a juicer (always a juicer for best results), but some of the recipes you can do with a Ninja blender.

not like the one at walmart, this one has a larger chute.

not like the one at walmart, this one has a larger chute.

the best juicer+ on the planet. extracts 50-100% more juice, and gets the nutrients from things you wouldn't normally think of: apple? seeds & stem too I hear.

1000W, 4.5" fan, 2400RPM motor. dehydrates in 3-6 hours, not days. some models cosrt less, like the jerky gun.