I'm a fan of Makita tools.  I have more than a dozen Makita tools, from cordless weed wacker to circular saw.  So, when it came time to replace my Dewalt cutoff saw, I didn't hesitate to order a Makita.  This ended up being a disappointment in design, construction and performance.  I'm comparing this saw side-by-side with a Dewalt D28715, same price in stores as this Makita.  I'm also comparing it to what I can remember of my lower priced Ridgid, which got stolen.  The only pro is that the Makita weighs less the others, but that's not all good because that weight savings is due to poor construction.