Stihl is definitely a great saw. I've owned both Stihl and Husqvarna and the Husky is a very good saw also. I wrote up a whole paragraph on my opinion, but bottom line is: get a Stihl, Husqvarna, or I suspect an Echo, but don't overdo it and buy more than what you need. The big ones are typically a lot more powerful than you need and are HEAVY at the end of the day. Some brands make a "professional" saw and a "hobby" saw. You would have a lot better satisfaction with the "professional" grade over the coming years.