I do not like the fact that there are two buttons to be held down while using this device. One is supposed to be a safety feature and if you let go of it, it stops. Very awkward and uncomfortable compared to the kitchen aid i have at my other home.
This little blender is amazing. It's small and compact from a storage perspective. As a blender, it's equally amazing as making a shake is a snap and that includes grinding ice to make slushies.
I love my Smart Stick hand blender. It's great for making gazpacho and any other recipe that calls for blending/liquifying ingredients. I use it also for making marinara sauce. It's lightweight and easy to use. The one drawback is the on-off button. It's a bit awkward to turn it on and off while you're blending ingredients. I kept the previous handle from my old blender and use that on my new blender which makes it much easier to use. It could be the arthritis in my hands that makes it difficult.