I have a confession to make.  The only blender I've ever had in my home has been a cheap $15 one that we actually picked up to do a homeschool science experiment a number of years ago.  I never really felt that I needed one before, until I started making smoothies, iced coffee drinks, shakes and the like.  Only to find out that cheap blenders just don't do well with the cups of ice.  At least not in a short amount of time and not without that smell of thinking that the motor is going to burn up on you.