Kalmia wrote:
>
> Anyone own one? Is there really a difference, or is this just a
> marketing ploy?

Vitamix has not been selling enough so they changed the description on
their label. The difference from a regular blender? Price, strudiness,
longevity, sound volume. With a regular blender you don't need a sound
shield. With a smoothie maker, you do need a sound shield.