Quality, power, ease of use, quiet and smooth - this is the Bosch 1678. From the arbor lock which keeps the blade from turning when you change it, to the padded handle, to the saw hook that swings out when you want to hang the saw from a sawhorse or a rafter, these are just a few illustrations of the thought that has gone into the design and construction of this saw. I purchased the rip guide which is specific for this saw and I got a Bosch soft side case for the saw and accessories. A saw with the blade on the left took some getting used to for me. Now, I am beginning to see the advantages - easier view of the cutting line which means more accurate cuts. Also, this saw stays on the line and does not seem to want to "wander" as some others I have used in the past. One note of interest - this saw does not have the electic brake that many others do - the blade coasts down to a stop in about five seconds, instead of two. The tradeoff is that the brushes in the Bosch will last a long time. Electic braking plays hell with brushes. You will never regret this purchase. Mine arrived in perfect condition. I have saved its box for other stuff.

As a homeowner, i bought this saw for siding replacement and some framing work. It is indeed a powerhouse! The saw works perfectly and cuts through materials like butter! As for shipping...that is another matter. Amazon did it's job and shipped in a very timely manner. The packaging job done by Bosch was ridiculous! The carbide blade was obviously bouncing around in the box and did a excellent job of chewing up the footplate and bladeguard. I didn't return the saw because the beating it took did not effect it's perfomance...*****UPDATE**JUST THOUGHT I WOULD LET POTENTIAL BUYERS KNOW THAT I WAS CONTACTED BY BOTH AMAZON AND A BOSCH VP REGARDING THE SHIPPING PROBLEMS I HAD. WHAT GREAT FOLLOW-UP SERVICE! BOSCH OFFERED TO IMMEIDATELY EXCHANGE THE SAW ADDING THAT THEY WERE ADDRESSING THE SHIPPING CARTON PROBLEMS. IN THE END, I KEPT THE SAW BUT WAS HIGHLY IMPRESSED BY THE CARING RESPONSE FROM BOTH AMAZON AND BOSCH. IN MY OPINION THIS IS INSIGHT TO PRODUCT SUPPORT ONE COULD EXPECT FROM BOTH COMPANIES. THANKS FOLKS! (P.S., BOSCH SENT ME SOME GOODIES TOO!:-)

as a framing carpenter I rely on a good saw and bosch hasn't let me down. This is a strong, durable saw with plenty of power. However, the packaging problem has not yet been addressed. The blade was not secured to anything in the box, and caused a good bit of cosmetic damage on the footplate and along the motor casing. But like I said, it was just cosmetic and has not hindered performance.

I found the same issues with the packing however the blade had not damaged anything in the box. Love the ballance and feel of the top handle. Outpreformed my friends Makitas and put them to shame. Now if only Amazon would offer the rip fence as an accessory.

This saw is the best worm drive I've used. It is light weight and has a nice balance. Good power. The built in saw hook, arbor lock and rubber cushion grip are all extras to a great tool. Well done Bosch.

I need to rely on a good saw and like all of my other Bosch products this saw has never let me down. You will get a life time of work out of this workhorse. Don't hesitate, buy this great saw...Bosch reputation alone is enough reason!

The loose blade is a definite shipping hazard, both to the saw which sustained more than cosmetic damage and to the unsuspecting cartoon opener as the blade was protruding through the side of the Bosch box. Having decided to probably send this saw back, I bought the rear handle version of it from a local hardware (after checking it for loose blade damage). I tried both and like the rear handle better, it has better balance and is easier on the wrist, follows your line better. Both saws have a tendancy to rotate with the motor when you first start them up, so keep the blade away from your work.