Blenders are just not something we've been able to keep on hand for longer than 1 month [at the very most] without utterly destroying them. From burning out the motors to wrecking their blades we've been through the, alleged, best; however, we found the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel w/ the VitaMix, but is it all it's cracked up to be? Here's my gadgets and gizmos review.

In this review, I hope to make a good comparison between the identical nature of the VitaMix [high powered blender] and food processor or the culinary divide. Although this will not be the end-all be-all in comparative studies, I will touch on some of the key points and criteria I look for when choosing an appliance, be it industrial strength or consumer grade. 

At first glance I caught a glimpse of the VitaMix. It intrigued me so much that I contacted the company to inquire about their "blender". They abruptly corrected my terminology and let me know that, 
"The VitaMix is not a blender, but is in fact a food processor." 
Well, long story short... I'm always up for a new industrial strength gadget or gizmo, so I went out and purchased one and here's what I found to be the case.

Pros
High powered, industrial strength
High speed, can liquify its contents in a matter of seconds
Ease of use is there
Increases nutrient bioavailability and absorption by shattering cell walls of produce liquified by it
Great for smoothies, soups, sauces, sorbet/ice cream-style desserts 
Extremely versatile and powerful [can whip the cream out of any consumer grade blender]
Worth at least 3 times its price
Excellent investment for preventive health
Great warranty [at least 5 years] have friends and relatives who still have there's [20 years later] still working like new

Cons
Over $500
No true options for varying between a dice, chop, slice, julienne, chiffonade, or many of the other types of cuts that add the aesthetics to the finish of a dish
No uniformity in cuts and shapes
Have to use small portions if you're working with large amounts 
Can do a lot of things, but doesn't truly offer all of the options of a 'true' food processor
Narrow base makes for more difficulty in working with solid foodstuffs

The VitaMix is a very high powered, in my humble opinion, blender with a lot of functionality, that in some cases rivals that of your traditional food processor. It's got a lot of pluses and a few minuses that have easy work-around solutions. Boasting a large volume capacity output of liquids, smoothie and smoothie-type product, soup and semi-solid food, like pesto, pastes, creams, butters and the like, I found that it can't, however, handle the same volume of the concentrated foodstuffs of your Robot-Coupe or Cuisinart food processors. It'll go for a moment before struggling and finally self regulating and shutting off. An excellent protective mechanism they've built in, by the way, to minimize on the wear and tear. 

I've been to quite a few demonstrations, showcasing its versatility, functionality, sleek design and speed, but have had a hard time dismissing the need for a traditional food processor. The base of your traditional food processor is nice and wide, and it can put a better chop on your foods without mincing or liquifying. It's got an incredible assortment of blades to deliver a wide variety of higher end, uniform, decorative cuts. The VitaMix tends to be a better deal for liquifying things on a more cell-splitting level. Great for smooth sauces and creams, but not as good for those things you want more recognizable texture to.

Now I know there are some ways to get some of the same or similar results using the VitaMix, but I don't always want to make' it work... I want it to just work because that's what it was designed to do.

We've had our VitaMix since 2008 and still feel it's one of the best buys we've made, as far as culinary equipment goes. 

Well there's my review. Like I said, not the end-all-be-all, but it definitely gives you a good snapshot of where I'm coming from and what I find to be of the most value. 

Question:
Would I purchase a VitaMix again? 

Answer:
An emphatic, resounding YES! I already have [that makes 2]; and I'd purchase a 3rd; but... I've got my sites set on some new gadgets and gizmos! 
I'll have to let you know.

As always, it's been my pleasure sharing this review with you. Until next time...