<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Howdy, Listmates! I waited a substantial amount of time before summarizing because I didn't get many responses, and they would trickle in from time to time. No one could tell me about the K-Tec mixer/blender, even though that machine appeared to be hardier than the Vita Mix because it's part that did the grinding and mixing was made of metal rather than rubber or plastic, as is the Vita Mix. One person had the K-Tec mill, not the mixer, and said that the company was eager to please their customers and easy to deal with. The K-Tec is a bit more expensive with only a one-more-year warranty (K-Tec, 8; Vita Mix, 7). The overwhelming response was that the Vita Mix was a great machine and everybody loved theirs, except for one person who said the hexagonal shaped nut in the bottom of the container came loose from the rubber in which it was mounted. They said this was because of the tremendous stress imparted on it by the rotating shaft connected to the motor. Vita Mix had recommended going full speed in one direction, then hitting reverse to crunch-up everything in the container, only apparently the connecting hexagonal nut came loose and that maybe it has been redesigned. It seems like they're both good machines and would do well with most mixing tasks. Cecilia Vohl [log in to unmask]