This is a great blower. I had a craftsman professional blower purchased about 10 years ago. When it finally died, and the repair cost was over 700 dollars, I decided to shop around. After a lot of research, I decided on this blower because of the 4 stroke engine and the power. I couldn't be happier. I have massive oak trees on my property and the massive number of acorns and debris these trees dump is a challenge to keep up with. This blower has handled every last bit perfectly. I couldn't be happier. Easy to start, runs without a problem, offers great power, and great convenience being that it is 4 stroke. While the price is high, especially for a homeowner and not a professional, if you do spend many hours working to keep your yard beautiful, this blower will be a great tool for you and well worth the additional dollars. I looked at home depot and lowes to see what was available, but those blowers were weak and seemed cheaply made, not to mention that the variety was all but non-existent. Amazon.com September 19, 2010