I am looking to replace this one

I only use this blender for smoothies, usually just fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, protein powder, and ice.

THE PROS: It blends my smoothies pretty well and chops ice just fine. I really haven't complained about the quality of smoothies this blender makes. They're good. I put in whole cubes of ice and the blender chops them up. If you don't keep the blender on long enough, usually 30 seconds, you many find small chunks of ice, but that can be remedied by putting it on longer.

I find that the two speeds are enough for my needs. I usually start out on slow for about 30 seconds, then punch it up to high for 15 seconds.

I haven't had the problem of leaking like others have had. But then again, I use my blender is spurts: 3 times a week for 2 months, then not at all for 3 months.

THE CONS: My biggest complaint is that there is a stinch in the jar after I clean it. I only make smoothies in this blender and am very careful to clean it carefully and thoroughly right away. But no matter how much I scrub or how many times I soak it, I can't get it to smell right. Maybe the spout, which we don't use, has debris in it even though I run hot, soapy water through it. Maybe it's the plastic container holding odor from the fruit. I don't know, but it doesn't make me feel good about giving my 2 year old son smoothies made from it.

The spout is useless to me. I like thick smoothies and nothing will come out of the spout when I make them. So I just pour from the container. It has a spout for easy pouring, so that's no problem.

This blender is also very loud and shakes a lot on the counter. I have to hold it sometimes so it won't run away from me. My usually runs into the other room when I make the smoothies because it's so loud. I'm not sure about the noise level of other blenders, but hopefully not all are this agitating to the eardrums.

I received this one as a gift to replace a cheap WalMart blender, but now I'm looking to buy a Kitchenaid blender very soon to replace this one - maybe one with a nice glass jar.