Is the blender/food processor great because cuisinart is a great name or is cuisinart great because the products are great? Either way, you will not be disappointed with this product. The blender is very powerful. It has no problems getting through ice, frozen foods and more. There is no way to explain the power so I will tell you what impressed me. Sunday morning, as I finished making breakfast for everyone, I noticed I forgot to defrost the solid brick of frozen OJ I was going to serve. I put the "brick" into the blender and added the water, in seconds I had ice cold OJ to serve. The food processor attachment is also just as nice. I wish they had made the bowl a little bigger as if you add to much liquid it tends to leak as the whirlpool is formed. All in all, a great machine.