A mandoline is what I requested last year for Christmas from my parents. Their pick for me:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/de-buyer-mandoline/?pkey=cmandolines-slicers. I absolutely love it. On the pricey side, but it has super sturdy construction, a nice hand guard (which, being a klutz, I appreciate), and is easily adjustable for different thicknesses.

Mandolins have such a range in prices, not really sure how cheap, cheap is, but I have this one http://www.oneida.com/kitchenware/kitchen-tools-gadgets/mandolin-slicer.html and it does have stand and a thickness gauge. It's selling for $29.99 and to me that is a great deal considering how well it works, I love it!!

My husband got me this one for Christmas: http://www.starfrit.com/Products/KITCHEN/KITCHEN%20GADGETS/ChoppersChippers/93087.aspx?sc_lang=en-CA

I think he said it was $15. I've never used another mandoline, but it seems to do the job! My only complaint is that if you want to make french fries with it, they have to be shoe-string since it doesn't have a wider option for them.

I have this one http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=13773&words=mandolin

well, the older one without the kickstand. it has rubberized feet on the bottom and stays put. the interchangeable blades are great and the regular slicer is adjustable. notches on the underside let you use it on top of various size bowls. you can also throw the whole thing in the dishwasher and be done with it!

I see the new one has some special blade guard so you may want to look for the old style (on which i dont use the food holder anyway, makes it cumbersome. just watch what you're doing and you'll be fine!). one can probably find one pretty cheap on ebay or amazon.

I have this one and I love it: http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-495366/Kyocera-Adjustable-Mandoline.

The ceramic blade is super sharp and will last longer than a steel blade, it's adjustable for different thicknesses, and it's tiny enough to fit in a drawer!

When I use my mandolin I bring out my 'C&K cut resistant glove with core of steel'. That way I don't have to use the akward blade guard. It is washable and a lifesaver when you want to quickly slice a vegetable on your mandolin.

http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-International-HGT-11-Folding-Mandoline/dp/B001F5RSEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1310135611&sr=1-1

I recently purchased this from Amazon, and I couldn't be happier! Honestly, I'm not much of a mandolin snob, but the blade is super sharp, there are 6 different attachments (super thin, thin, med, thick, and two sizes of julienne), it comes apart into separate pieces that are easy to clean, and it comes in its own little box.

The blade guard is a little awkward to use, depending on what you're trying to slice, but I'm pretty sure that would be a universal thing with a mandolin. A HUGE time saver in the kitchen for me; I'd highly recommend it!

I have the Benriner. I love it! I rest it in a bowl when I use it to prevent slipping. No accidents yet!

I love the Benriner. It's my third mandoline (picky picky), and it's the first one that I actually use on a regular basis. I feel like the other ones I tried (OXO and some fancy one from W-S) just had too many pieces and parts and were hard to clean. Benriner + cut-resistant glove from Microplane is my favorite system.

I have a Zyliss, it retails for @$50. It's my first so I don't know how it compares to more or less expensive ones, but I love it. I only have ever cut myself when I was being irresponsible (it comes with a guard that I don't always use), it doesn't slide around, and it came with multiple blades, including 2 for julienne.

I don't know which OXO mandolin farrahlarie had, but I have a v-slice one I purchased at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $40 and I love it: http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-V-Blade-Mandoline-Slicer/dp/B001THGPDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310142759&sr=8-1

There are a few different pieces, but they all attach on the underside of the mandolin for easy storage, and if you're only planning on using it as a basic slicer, you never even need deal with the attachments (but they're very easy once you practice switching them out a few times). There's a crinkly slicer (potato chips!) and two juliennes (the thicker one is just labeled "french fries," I believe), and you can adjust to four thickness levels with a knob, no need to change blades!

It has a little kick-stand thing with no-slip feet, an easy-to-grip rubbery handle, and a handguard (though I want to purchase one of those cut-resistant gloves ccp mbd mentioned for smaller things like carrots)-- and, depending on what you're using it for, you can just rinse it clean right away without dismantling and scrubbing. I'm always impressed with the quality of OXO's products, and this is no exception.

When I was a chef I had a leifheit that was my grandmothers. When I left that job, someone liked it so much, they decided to take it for themselves (stole).

I got a cuisenart for my wedding, pure crap and I got my mom an oxo and she returned it.

Nothing compared to my leifheit, so I looked all over the internet and found the same one that was stolen! I also got one of ebay and they are both amazing, still super sharp. They are the best hands down.

We have two in our kitchen.
One is a full sized OXO mandoline that has several changeable blades and a large V-shaped knife blade. This has been great for everything I've ever thrown at it.
Our second is a simple and small produce mandoline. This one is used for slicing small onions, tomatoes, etc for that quick meal or just to get something sliced quickly. I bought this right after college when I moved into a small apartment. It collapses small and is very strong for it's size.
I know a lot of people don't like to have duplicates around, but these both get used pretty equally. When making several sandwiches for lunch the small one is perfect for a quick slicer. The larger is used for full dinners or other gatherings.

i have this one. i use it mostly for soft-skinned produce (namely tomatoes - i fail at cutting them with a regular knife!) but it handles potatoes, carrots, and just about everything else i've thrown at it. at under $20, it's well worth the purchase.

I got one for a dollar from a thrift store. It came with a crappy microwave chip maker that I bought just for the mandolin in the kit. I did try the chip maker, but it melted the first time I used it (big surprise). Anyways, the mandolin is very basic (no guard or stand), but it works, and for that price, I'll take it. It's also nice and small so it tucks right into the side of a kitchen drawer and doesn't take much space at all.

i second the de Buyer! i just bought one the other day and its amazing!

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/de-buyer-mandoline/?pkey=e%7Cde%2Bbuyer%2Bmandoline%7C4%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-

watch the video and you can see how amazing it is. i had a cheap model a few years ago and i threw it away because i was so afraid of it. i cut my self countless times. this de Buyer has a guard that you put the food in and slide back and forth. AND the feet have rubber on them so its not sliding all over the place!

as some one who has wasted money on a cheap one i would recommend you spend a little more on one that will last a life time!

The Wholesome Home,
Glad you like your Leifheit mandoline!
Thanks,
Lynn
Leifheit USA
http://www.leifheitus.com

I really I have the pampered chef mandolin that others have mentioned and I really don't like it, it so safe it is barely usable. The veggie holder is too small to slice things whole and you have to use it with the slicing blade to push the safety away. I would prefer a less expensive one that has few safety features so I can use it how I want.

I agree, I love the OXO V Slicer Mandoline. It has done everything I need it to do!