Hey Gary, I don't have a slicer (yet) however I am also in the market for a slicer. I purchased the cheaper slicer which worked for some softer meats, but I ended up returning it for a number of reasons.
My father has one of the larger 10" blade slicer which I used a few times and has more power. Personally, I would go for the bigger unit which you can get for the $200 - $300 range for the following reasons:
- larger blade and tray to accommodate larger cuts of meat
- more horsepower to accommodate harder or tougher cuts of meat
- better build quality, usually all metal units, longer life expectancy
- easier to clean
- I once tried to slice prosciutto and the cheaper unit couldn't cut it at all, the large unit easily sliced through it.
There are some cons such as a heavier and larger unit which takes more room to store and also the cost is a bit more. But at the end of the day, everyone's needs are different, therefore you have to base your purchase based on your needs and budget. Good luck and happy shopping.