"Mark A.Meggs" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:29:26 -0700, Blinky the Shark
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>Does anyone have a mandolin that they can recommend in the, say, $80US
>>range? I'm thinking about giving one as a gift and have never had or used
>>one, so I could use your experience.
>
> I believe Cook's Illustrated tested mandolins recently and recommended
> Oxo.
>
> - Mark

It's important to note here that OXO makes two kinds of mandolines:
straight blade and V-blade. Cook's Illustrated reviewed both (May-June
2008, p. 28). CI gave their highest rating to the V-blade, which earned
their best 3-star ratings in all four performance categories: straight,
julienne, and waffle cuts, and user-friendliness. The straight blade scored
only fair (2 stars) in straight cuts, but earned 3 stars in all the other
categories. Interestingly, the better-rated v-blade is cheaper (USD$49.95)
than the straight-blade (USD$69.99).

Check out the OXO straight-blade mandoline on Amazon.com; there are more
negative reviews than positive ones:
http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Good-Grips.../dp/B0000DAQ8B or
http://tinyurl.com/4mph3z

I've had a Borner V-Slicer since 1988; I bought it after watching an
infomercial. It's a real workhorse, actually does *everything* the
informercial promised, and it's still razor-sharp after 20 years of hard
use. As much as I really like OXO products, my Borner's track record would
steer me toward buying another one.

Karen