Do NOT buy a blade grinder! This is an affordable,good entry-level burr grinder.
Positive Product Points
Good overall design, very acceptable performance Large hopper Easy to clean
Negative Product Points
Bin tends to start sliding out during grinding, can be a bit messy.
Detailed Commentary
Having read most of the reviews, some of the complaints have me scratching my head a bit. Why would you want to grind beans for over 10 straight minutes? Any expectation that this small machine with plastic housing would not make a fair amount of noise also seems unreasonable. And don't remove the hopper when it is full of beans!
Unreasonable expectations aside, the only real flaw I see is the bin sliding out due to the vibrations during grinding. This can lead to grinds falling behind the bin, necessitating lifting the machine and trying to pour the escaped precious grinds into your filter or container. There should be some simple mechanism to hold the bin in place.
I have used this grinder for drip coffee and espresso, so I can't give testimony about any problems with French Presses. The results I've gotten with espresso grinding have been very tasty indeed. I can understand why some might want a slightly finer grind; I thought that too, when I fist SAW the grinds, but when I actually tasted the results through my Silvia, I have no complaints. The machine is certainly easy to use and easy to clean, and is fairly attractive in a modern plasticky sort of way. I doubt it will last for more than a few years, but at this price point I don't mind. I haven't had any real problems with static. There may be a little powder stuck to the walls of the bin, but I don't live in a cold dry climate. They are on sale often for $99.00, and I only paid $60.00 for mine, so that makes it a good value. However, if you want a grinder that is really versatile and built for the long haul, you need to look to more expensive models like the Rocky. You get what you pay for.
Buying Experience
I went into Starbucks, it was on sale, I waffled a bit, so they knocked the price down to $60.00! Must have been my lucky day. My local Starbucks has some good folks working there.