I'm squarely in the PQ1500 fan base. I own 7 machines and I told my husband if something happened to the 1500, I wouldn't look twice at my "backup" machines, I'd buy another 1500 in a heartbeat. I LOVE this machine. It does have speed control; the exact same speed control that your car has. You mash the pedal harder, it goes faster. It's that simple.