Subzero is good if you're getting panels, but if you want dispensers and stainless KitchenAid is a great choice.

Forgot to mention - we are not getting cabinet panels. It will be a stainless front. Do you think the KitchenAid external dispenser looks cheap? Would prefer it all silver like the Subzero. Also does the top part on the KitchenAid look cheap/fake? Prefer the grill of the Subzero or Monogram Professional. Also looks like KitchenAid has black at the very bottom base which I am not as fond of. But KitchenAid does have good capacity. Thoughts?

I don't like how any of the external dispensers look. Fridge/freezer is so big I want it to blend in with panels. I'm so over ss.

Get the Subzero and an ice crusher. GE fridges are not particularly reliable, kitchenaids are ok, but Subzeros are best in class.

I would get the Sub Zero and just add a ice maker somewhere in the kitchen

I agree Subzero is probably the best but kind of annoying to pay top dollar and not have a feature like crushed ice. It does have ice cubes available. And if it were easy to get crushed ice otherwise, might be ok, but don’t feel like smashing ice cubes for crushed ice. Suggestions on easy and convenient ice crusher? It does not seem like separate ice makers make crushed ice but maybe I am wrong about that? Thanks so much!

Yes they make crushed ice cubes , The only thing is they are pricey and you would need to plan for it because you would need a drain in the spot for the old ice to melt and new ice cubes to be made..

Also how much do you use ice? entertain a lot? make smoothies often? huge factor is how often do you need/use ice

Check Bluestar's new line of fridges!

How often do you use crushed ice? There are many ways to crush ice. I would do whole ice and cold water for day to day.

I have a Monogram. The ice and water features are great and have never given us any problem. However, I find the fridge side is way overdone with features, which causes a lack of usable space for larger items.

Thanks everyone. The crushed ice is just a nice feature that seems like we would use frequently especially with our kids. Might encourage us all to drink more water which is great. It is certainly not a necessity but just seems like with the high dollar for a Subzero, too bad to not get, and hard to do otherwise on a frequent basis without a fridge/freezer. Will check out the suggested Bluestar one - thanks!

I looked at Bluestar - I just saw a 36 inch builtin without external dispenser and with bottom freezer. Looks nice but we want a side by side and at least 48 inches wide with external dispenser. Is there a new one that I missed? Thanks!

I can crush ice in my Ninja blender--they cost around $100.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Ninja ice crusher - looks good! Another issue with the Subzero is that it looks like you actually have to press the button to dispense water/ice as opposed to pushing a glass on a pad to dispense it. Yes this is minor but again with top dollar, sort of an inconvenience because need to do with 2 hands rather than 1. Also may make it harder for kids to dispense on their own. Worth it to deal with these inconveniences (separate ice crusher, having to use 2 hands for dispenser) for Subzero? Thanks again!

I have a bosch fridge/freezer with a crushed ice feature and I find it really annoying. The crushed ice seems to be messier and get all over the place. If the goal is just to drink more water, not sure how crushed ice versus cubes ice matters, but that's just me. My fridge also requires you to hold a button to dispense water/ice. It's not annoying and my children (ages 4 and 7) are able to operate it. I think it also looks a little nicer than the dispensers that have that rubber or plastic attachment in the back that needs to be pressed to dispense.

(As a side note, I'm not sure whether bosch makes a fridge in the size you need, but It doesn't make enough ice to keep up with my family on some days. I wouldn't recommend it for this reason.)

Thanks for your comments. You all are making good points about the crushed ice and the pads to push your glass against. Do people find the Subzero external dispenser area too small? Looks like enough for just single glass but not big container? And what about the placement of the external dispenser immediately to the right of the handle? Too close to the handle? Thanks again!

Another issue is with the KitchenAid, it is supposedly smudge/fingerprint free stainless. Is that correct? How is the Subzero in terms of smudges/fingerprints for stainless? Thanks again!

I have Subzero internal water dispenser and my 5 year old granddaughter finds it very easy to use. If we want crushed ice a use my Blend Jet, only $49.00.