I just replaced my circular saw with a Makita 5740NB and I couldn't be happier. It is light at 7.7 pounds and is very quiet. I don't need the earmuffs I wore with my old saw. The light weight is due to the 10 amp motor. Otherwise everything else is as rugged as the bigger models. Most circular saws are about 13 amps and 11 pounds. I only use it for projects around the house so I don't notice that it has only 10 amps. I don't need to power through a truckload of wood every day.

I had comparison shopped for months and then waited patiently till it went on sale for $70. Makita has really upped their quality and usuall is up near the top in comparison tests of various woodworking tools.