"Trent©" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 07:58:37 -0400, "Harry"
wrote:

Ryobi and Skill are
brands, it's just that they are lower quality that others (DeWalt, Makita,
etc.)

Lower quality? No. Simply different specs. Some are production
tools...some are handyman tools. Both are good quality...but within
their own realm.

Chicago Electric, Drill Master, etc. are imported, no-name, cheap
stuff that is named by each store that imports them.

No...that's not correct.

So, in terms of my
question, as to how they compare, the quality of these store-named-imports
are lower qiality than the low-priced brand ones (Ryobi, Skill, etc.)
RIght?

Wrong. Within their own right, the quality is good.

A good analogy...sailing. If yer going 5 miles along the Atlantic
coast, a 30 hp motor and the Queen Mary or similar super liner will
both get you there. One will cost more...and be over kill for the
task at hand. They will both have the quality to get the task
accomplished.

But if yer goin' from New York to England, the 30 hp motor probably
won't make it. The QUALITY will still be there...but will be
overshadowed by the enormous task at hand.

Enter into the equation...prejudice. Many folks are prejudiced as to
the tool and the retailer selling it.

An example? If I had a choice between a DeWalt & a Ryobi...I'd take
the Ryobi every time!

I'm so confused :-( I mean I understand the logic, and I understand that
part of this is personal preference, and all that, but from an "amateur
handyman's" stand point, let's see. If I needed a cordless drill to have
around for the ocasional use, an inexpensive 14.4 V Chicago Electric would
be fine. However, if later on I wanted to, let's say, finish my basement,
then I'd need to go out and buy a more expensive model. Is that right? Or
unless I use the cordless drill on a daily basis, to make a living, then a
cheaper model would be O.K., even if I decide to do some bigger projects
around the house?

Like someone else said in this thread, it'd be good if someone had
experience in long term use of many different models, so they could give a
comparative opinion. But, that is not a very common thing, so...

BTW, why would you take the Ryobi every time, if you had a choice between a
DeWalt and a Ryobi? I think I'm missing something.

Finally, I want to thank you, and every one else, for your thoughtful
comments.