After reading other reviews, I opted for the aluminum insert version of this product, which is a Williams Sonoma exclusive. I've never owned a slow cooker before so don't have anything to compare this to, but it's wonderful so far. Because it's aluminum, I can saute in the inner bowl right on the stove without having to wash another pan. I'm a vegetarian and often add frozen products towards the end of the cooking time (Morningstar Farms veg. steak strips, etc.), and don't have to worry about the temperature change cracking the pan. Clean up is a breeze. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the price - $250 is pretty steep, and with shipping and taxes from WS, the total price was closer to $300.