Pros: Large size.

Cons: I can tell no difference between low and high settings. It is NOT a slow cooker. You wouldn't dare leave it to cook all day, as it boils easily. Definately, do not buy this cooker unless you want a cooker that essentially cooks like a pot on a hot burner.

Pros: Pleasantly suprise by this crock. I bought this for my wife for xmas even though we had a 6 qt model crock pot. Thought it would be nice to get the large size as we have a family of 6. We have used it about 6 times and it has worked very well with a variety of dishes.

Cons: None really, but it seems to cook a little hotter than ones we've had in the past. Maybe that's because of the size.

Other Thoughts: If you have the need for a large Crock pot, you can't go wrong with this one. The previous comment about it not being "all stainless steel" is right...it's just the cover/perimeter wrapping but it is still an attractive, sturdy product.

Pros: 8.5qt usefully dimensioned oval ceramic pot with clear glass lid and 280/380-watt even-heating (but poorly insulated and inefficient) attractive, stainless-steel finished base.

Newegg system builders who tire of pizza or burgers may find the MST-800V a potentially useful component. As supplied it is unsuited to "slow-cooking" or preparation of nearly any other appealing cuisine because (as other reviewers note) its 280-watt (lo) and 380-watt (hi) power, and crude (non-electronic/nonprogrammable) regulation results in temperatures that uncontrollably creep up to 200F within 8 hours.

Cons: However, if you need a larger capacity vessel (8.5qt, usefully oval shaped, accommodating a 7lb roast) than the more sophisticated 6qt Hamilton Beach model 33966 slow-cooker (which can only accommodate a significantly smaller, 4 or 5 lb roast), the MST-800V drawbacks can be overcome with a home-brew PID controller, or simply by use of a common thyristor "lamp dimmer" plus a digital probe thermometer (Newegg carries only the over-priced OS AW129 Item#:N82E16882170201). A Kill-a-Watt power meter, Item#:N82E16882715001 can also be useful for device calibration. And of course consult Douglas Baldwin's outstanding online "A Practical Guide to Sous Vide Cooking."

Other Thoughts: In fact, external control is facilitated by the lack of MST-800V built-in electronics (so that's very much a plus.) Consequently, one can assemble an inexpensive system for "slow cooking" or, using appropriate caution, more sophisticated sous vide-- with the capacity to hold a 7 lb roast; and basically, who wants to slow-cook single-servings? Also note that the MST-800V is arguably under-powered by sous vide cooker standards; but start-up "death zone" issues can be minimized by preheating with a 3qt charge, then add your bag, and top-off with water brought to near boiling on a stove-- with the MST-800V's heater and supplemental external control carrying on from that point.

Pros: none - save your money

Cons: 1) very limited warranty

2) poor quality ceramic pot

3) cooks too hot on even the lowest settings

Other Thoughts: We received this product the first week of 10/09 and by the second week of 1/10 the crock developed a hairline crack. We use two other crock pots several years older and there are no cracks on them, so we know how to care for the ceramic pot. Customer service points out that non-electric parts are not covered and provides a price list. A new crock shipped is almost thirty dollars. What a rip off when a new unit (that does cook too hot, even on the lowest settings) is forty dollars. Spend your money elsewhere, I know I will.

Pros: Does everything that it says it will do - and in an excellent manner-eh!!

Cons: None

Pros: This is an excellent slow cooker. The stainless steel exterior doesn't get hotter than lukewarm, and the ceramic interior cooking bowl holds heat very well and works perfectly as a serving dish. My kitchen is fairly far away from my home theater, and the timer beep is loud enough to cut through TV noise with no problem. If you're looking for a dependable slow cooker this unit is a great choice.

Cons: I could not be less impressed with its gaming performance. The first game I tried to play was Sim City 4, thinking I'd start with something low-end. Unfortunately I couldn't even get to the setup screen without Disc 1 melting between a pork shoulder and the ceramic bowl. Thinking Crysis would be a more vigorous test, I gave it a shot but it wouldn't even boot. Apparently this particular slow cooker isn't fully DirectX 9 compatible. I wish Newegg had mentioned something about that on the product site.

Other Thoughts: I don't regret buying this slow cooker. It has made me countless delicious meals, most of which are quite carb-conscious. I do wish I had purchased an XBox 360 or PS3 with it, though. Its gaming abilities are incredibly low-end, and if I wanted to keep playing Alpha Centauri over and over again I would have bought a netbook.

Pros: attractive. nice heavy ceramic pot. works.

Cons: Outside got VERY hot - too hot to touch - seems like elements are just inside the stainless steel wall with no insulation on the outside - so probably 50% of the heat is radiating away from the food and heating up the kitchen instead.

On high it is hot enough to...
a) waste A LOT of electricity
b) singe a cotton dish towel that was touching the outside during cooking.
c) be dangerous for children to touch

Other Thoughts: I'm returning it disappointed, because I really want a slow cooker but can't stand to have such an energy inefficient device.

The slow cookers I've seen in action keep most of the heat inside the cooker

Pros: Great Slow Cooker!!! Matches my kitchen decor perfectly. Large size 8.5qt. Very affordable.

Cons: N/A

Other Thoughts: time will tell how long it holds up...but at this point i must admit it is a great upgrade to my kitchen =p

Pros: It is a good slow cooker. (All I am allowed to write)

Cons: None..It is a good T.V. (All I am allowed to write)

Other Thoughts: My last three reviews have been rejected.

They are watching me..I must be a good boy.

"Back in the USSR"
Newegg is based out of Kalifornia

Pros: This is one of the best large slow cookers on the market, you can cook a small quail or a large turkey or a pot rost.

Cons: None none

Other Thoughts: If I could invent one that does better, I don't think I could.