I bought this for myself last Christmas, and, as all of the other reviews have already stated, it is one of the most well crafted, reliable (beautiful!) and useful appliances a baker will ever have.
That said, when considering whether or not to purchase it, I would really think about how much of a baker you are. If you tend to make cookies once a year using a mix, I wouldn't bother.
If, on the other hand, you like to bake often, and sometimes knead dough, whip cream, make merengues, etc. Then this is exactly what you're looking for. I had been getting by with a hand mixer for twenty years, and I'd been doing just fine, but boy do the eggs fluff up better and the sugar and butter cream together when you've got a Kitchen Aid on your counter. You don't have to stand there and hold the mixer for one thing, which frees your hands up for measuring, putting away ingredients, etc. It's great.
One thing I would also consider, is how much and how often you make bread. If you tend to make many loaves rather often, the Professional line (rather than the Artisan line here) would be a better choice. Really though, the majority of home bakers don't need that extra power, and they certainly don't need to spend the extra money.
Basically, if you like to bake a variety of things, and you aren't (yet) a professional, this is the best tool for the job.Get more detail about
KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red.
