looks like Consumers Report likes these four brands... same brands show up in every type snow blower...
<TABLE borderColor=#ffffff cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=560 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD class=tabletextgry_11px-white width=30 bgColor=#00676e height=14>
</TD><TD width=180 bgColor=#00676e height=14>Brand & model
</TD><TD width=46 bgColor=#00676e height=14>

Price</TD><TD class=tabletextgry_11px-white align=middle width=80 bgColor=#00676e height=14>Width/power</TD><TD width=100 bgColor=#00676e height=14>

Overall score</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#00676e colSpan=5 height=14>Test results</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=30 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=180 bgColor=#d5eaf6><!-- your comment here -->Similar models, in small type, comparable to tested model
</TD><TD width=46 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=80 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=100 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>

</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=30>
</TD><TD class=charttextred_capbold align=left colSpan=9>TWO-STAGE GAS Best for large driveways and deep snow; most weigh 150 to 250 lbs. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=charttext_bold vAlign=top align=right width=30 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
1</TD><TD vAlign=top width=180 bgColor=#d5eaf6>Toro Power Max 828LXE
</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=46 bgColor=#e9f4fa>$1,250</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=80 bgColor=#e9f4fa>28 in./8 hp</TD><TD width=100 background=/cro/resources/Images/Blobs3/brabackground.gif>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=charttext_bold vAlign=top align=right width=30 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
2</TD><TD vAlign=top width=180 bgColor=#d5eaf6>Yard-Man E5KLF CR Best Buy
</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=46 bgColor=#e9f4fa>1,100</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=80 bgColor=#e9f4fa>26 in./9.5 hp</TD><TD width=100 background=/cro/resources/Images/Blobs3/brabackground.gif>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=charttext_bold vAlign=top align=right width=30 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
3</TD><TD vAlign=top width=180 bgColor=#d5eaf6>Troy-Bilt Storm 10030
</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=46 bgColor=#e9f4fa>1,300</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=80 bgColor=#e9f4fa>30 in./10 hp</TD><TD width=100 background=/cro/resources/Images/Blobs3/brabackground.gif>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=charttext_bold vAlign=top align=right width=30 bgColor=#d5eaf6>
4</TD><TD vAlign=top width=180 bgColor=#d5eaf6>Craftsman (Sears) 88790
CR Best Buy
</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=46 bgColor=#e9f4fa>950</TD><TD class=charttext align=middle width=80 bgColor=#e9f4fa>28 in./9 hp</TD><TD width=100 background=/cro/resources/Images/Blobs3/brabackground.gif>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=20 bgColor=#e9f4fa>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>