For me, this has been a huge quality of chainsaw-life upgrade when compared with my gas machine. So far, I've used it for pretty light cutting: some saplings and breaking down logs (maybe 12" - 13" in diameter). There's no doubt it lacks the strength of my gas chainsaw, but it handles those bigger logs very easily if you take your time. I already had a couple of batteries for an Ego lawnmower (also nice), so I got the kind that comes with tool-only.For me, the best part is the convenience. I don't have all that much to chainsaw, and so I used to have to worry about keeping 2-cycle gas around, letting it go bad, tuning a carb, etc. Because of that, I tended to let chainsaw tasks pile up until it was 'worth' bringing out the saw and tinkering with it. Now, all I have to do is slap in a battery, and 5 minutes later I'm done with whatever chore it is. As a bonus, it's pretty quiet!I love this. It means I actually use the tool I have, and more gets done around the house. It's a no-brainer if you already have the batteries, but I'd suggest it even if this is your first tool in the Ego system.