I bought the Hitachi polisher because I wanted a machine that was lighter weight than the DeWalt DW849 I typically use. I also have a Porter Cable 7428 and have used the Makita 9227C. Normally the DeWalt is my "go to" polisher. The Hitachi has the great feel and performance of the heavy duty DeWalt and adds the convenience of a bailing handle from the Porter Cable and the Makita 9227C. The light weight of the Hitachi makes life easier when polishing for hours at a time. The motor has a soft-start... more info