These sanders are nice, light, powerful and last forever. Many idiots have my sander and it has taken a few falls, but still works with no unusual noises  and i like the hook and loop, but if you don't you can simply un  screw the pad and put on an adhesive backed pad. You don't realize how  useful the varible speed is unless you sand in tight quarters or alot of  refinshing. Also the hard dust cup is great better then the stupid bags or  little dust boxes. I would by this over the bosch or makita any day