I don't own a hand mixer. I don't own a stand mixer (which is on my wish list for Christmas this year). This bad boy does it all for me.
So what does it come with? It comes with a 12 cup bowl, a 10 cup bowl, and a 4 cup bowl (all 3 fit inside each other for storage). It comes with a small and a large blade and a dough blade. There's a juicer and an egg white beater. AND there's 3 slicing/shredding discs. I have used them all, and they are all fantastic. I love having one appliance that will do it all for me. The only issue I have with it is that it can only handle 4 cups of flour at a time. That means one batch of cookies or one loaf of bread. But that's it. I have had no other problems with it! I have had mine for 6 years now, and it is still running like a champ.
Would I recommend it for a beginning cook? YES! Would I recommend it for someone who just likes to mess around every once in a while in the kitchen? YES! There have been times where I haven't wanted to cook and it just makes my life so much simpler and cooking so much faster. Prep time for me is cut at least by a third, if not in half. Add this to your Christmas wish list!