This blender is, first of all, relatively simple to put together. I'm not the most DIY-handy of people, but managed to assemble it relatively quickly. Having said that, the instructions for assembly are entirely pictorial, similar to flat pack furniture, and I had some difficulty interpreting them. Fortunately, referring to those instructions wasn't really something I needed to do.
Structurally, there are three core components - the base unit, containing the motor and the speed controls, the jug and blades, and the unit lid. The base unit has a stainless steel brush finish, and sits solidly on the countertop - I wasn't concerned that it was going to fall over, which is a plus. The speed controls are set by a dial on the front, which has a variety of settings, including `pulse', for variety. The dial moves easily, and has a good grip, allowing for use even when hands are coated in juice.
The jug is a reassuringly thick glass, which is quite solid and heavy. I was concerned that I might drop it at one point, so be careful! The blades are wicked looking, and extremely sharp. Note that the jug must be slotted correctly onto the motor unit for the blades to turn. It may *appear* properly set, but if it is not correctly locked, then the device will not start up. I assume this is a safety feature to stop the jug falling off the base, and am glad to see it included - however, I wish that the page of instructions post-assembly had mentioned this, as I was originally concerned that there was an electrical fault!
The jug lid is easy to slot to the top of the jug, and has a hole in the centre where a measuring cup is placed - this allows for pouring into the jug even when the lid is placed. However, I found that on inserting the measuring cup, the two small holes that existed to allow the cup to be placed would also allow the escape of liquid from the blender - though only if the jug was filled to capacity (which is not the same as to the top of the jug - there is a maximum capacity line, as with kettles).
In use, the blender has so far created several nice soups and a milkshake, going through ice cream and vegetable matter with ease, and making a product with good consistency, with relative ease.
I'm impressed by the build quality of the machine, and the results. It is straightforward to use, and nice enough to look at. However, it does lose points for the opacity of the instructions, and the possibility that a full jug will allow liquid to escape, even in small quantities. This is a good blender, and I do like it, but I don't find it exceptional.