I have the KA where the bowl lifts, and I actually like it that way, but I've never used one where the beaters flip up. I've had mine for about 8 years, it got little use until I took up the cake stuff, but it works like a champ, and even did the MMF all the way (all PS was added).
I agree, get the biggest you can afford.
My grandma had a bowl lift that I learned to bake with. I currently have one that the top flips up, I've never really cared for the top flip but that's just me. I can't wait for my 6 quart to get here because then I'll have the bowl lift again.
With a KA the bowl-lift versus flip-top is a personal preference. I was all set to buy the bigger one, but I played with it in the store and just didn't like the bowl-lift and got an artisan instead. Of course now my KA is sitting in a box in the garage GASP because I don't have room for it in my current kitchen. I had a Bosch Universal machine and I love it. I have lots of the other attatchments and the base sits on my counter all the time so all the things actually get used. DeLonghi and Viking also make good heavy duty mixers. KA is just amore widely recognized brand, but there are plenty of good ones out there if you look.
I have an old Oster stand mixer with all of the attachments and I love it. I only wish they still made them and made them as well as this one, which is probably 25-30 yrs old. I also have a much older model Hamilton Beach by Scovill which still works great and it even comes apart to become a hand mixer, if you can hold it - weighs probably 20 lbs. It's still great for small jobs. My newest purchases were a KA Artisan and a han-held KA. I'm getting used to the Artisan, but it's really hard to stay away from my Oster. I really don't know if I could've gotten used to the bowl-lift type KA. I guess what I'm trying to say is, get something that's going to last a while and is able to do the jobs you need it to do. But be ready several years down the road, to have to make a switch to something completely unfamiliar. I've only had my new KA's for about a month, so I'm not sure I'm very helpful. Good luck with your research and have fun with your new purchase, whatever it may be!
I've had my white KA flip-top for ten years now and it's still going strong...which is actually a bummer because I want a new one in one of the pretty colors.
Mickig
i've had my white ka for a while too and i would love one of the red ones.
Kitchen Aid!!!!! I have two. I got my first one four years ago at Wal-Mart. It was refurbished, two weeks ago it would not go past the 6th speed.Don't know what happened. But for my birthday my DH and my wonderful son bought me a new Artisan, inthe gray(stainless steel). LOVE IT. They got it at Kohls for $299. With KA you won't be disapointed..
I love my KA. I had a Hamilton beach before and a double batch of peanut butter cookies got the best of it. While mixing in the last of the flour, smoke started coming out of it. It is now at rest in the "ole smokey mixer's graveyard." 
My kitchen aid is wonderful, I use it all of the time. Mostly for my wedding cake business, but for everything else. From making pizza dough to making divinity. I killed many portable mixers making divinity, but my kitchen aid works so great. I have had it for years, I always tell my husband that its the best gift he ever got me. I was just in Wal-Mart and there was one for $170.00
I don't know how I did it but roughly the first 2 years of decorating cakes, I did it with a hand mixer till I burned that sucker out. I bought a Kitchen Aid (flip-top) and have never been happier. It got me through the next 6 years of batters and buttercreams and basically has outlived me. (i 'retired' from cakes due to tendonitis in my hands).
Go with a kitchen aid. I had one and it suddenly stopped working. I called the company and they sent me another one (it was better than the one I had beofre). I sent the broken one back. They did all of this is 10 days, so when I saw the 6qt I bought it on sale. I love them both and use them both regularly. I have used a hamilton beach and they seem cheap compared to a ka. Good luck! 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%