I have a Vitamix. I bought it just over a year ago. I make green smoothies w/ it 3-4 times a week. I put ice, a frozen banana, and frozen berries in it usually, along w/ the other fun stuff - kale, cucumber, half an orange, almond butter, etc.
It is capable of making soup to ice cream, it is really a neat machine. Of course I rarely take the time to make the soup or ice cream, but I have tried to make both, and it came out great. I would recommend buying it at Costco also, great return policy and the Vitamix itself has a 7 year warranty.