Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I compared the JawSaw to reviews of the somewhat similar Black & Decker NLP1800 Alligator Lopper 18-Volt Cordless Chain Saw before buying the JawSaw. (1) The quality of the Alligator's battery was a unanimous complaint: it is an 18v NiCad battery which doesn't hold a charge long and power drops off as the charge goes down. One reviewer said "The batteries never did last more than about 10 minutes on the job." The JawSaw's 20v Lithium battery lasted an hour my first time with it (not continuously running, of course). The manual says it will last longer after repeated charges. Power never dropped off until the charge ran out completely. (2) Another unanimous complaint about the Alligator is how hard it is to add oil, which is very easy on the JawSaw. Plus the JawSaw has a window for checking the oil level. (3) The Alligator got frequent complaints about the chain -- difficulty with it coming off, difficulty in adjusting the tension, and with it cutting the chain guard (which on the A, doesn't completely cover the chain and bar like the JawSaw does). The chain never came off in my first hour of use. The JawSaw's chain tension is done semi-automatically (loosen and immediately re-tighten a nut). Opening up the JawSaw to get to the chain is very quick and easy using the provided socket tool. If the chain wears out, a new one is about $15 at Amazon. *Update: I've used the JawSaw a dozen times or so now, each time cutting many limbs and trees, and chopping up downed trees, and have had the chain come off 3 or 4 times now, always when cutting a tall 4" tree. When the cut gets most of the way through the tree so that the tree starts leaning, it can put pressure on the chain and cause it to come off, though I've cut 4" trees and NOT had it come off. When it comes off, I just open the door over the chain area and thread it back on. It's not that difficult. (4) The Alligator requires 2-hands to operate. While JawSaw says to use both hands, once the saw is working, you can take one hand off to hold a limb or tree. No bending over is required when a tree is on the ground. Stand over it, place the jaw around the tree trunk/limb and press down. The one hand operation also makes it possible to use a 5' extension handle with it (not available for the cordless JawSaw yet -- the corded JawSaw's extension will not work with the cordless JawSaw). There is no extension for the Alligator. (5) The Alligator's battery takes 8 hours to charge with the standard charger. The JawSaw's only takes 3 hours. I have not bought a second battery yet because I'm usually ready to quit once the battery does. The JawSaw figures to be much safer than the Alligator because the chain is completely enclosed until you put the tree trunk or limb in the jaw and start it cutting. It is easy to cut down saplings at ground level -- just lay the saw on the ground at the base of the saplings and start it up. With the bar/chain guard, there was no worry about the chain hitting the ground. (See the picture at the top of the JawSaw's page here.) I cut down at least 20 saplings in the first hour without a problem. I have since cut down dozens more saplings and tree limbs. The Alligator is about $60 cheaper than the JawSaw (based on what I paid at Home Depot), plus the Alligator's battery is $15 cheaper (on Amazon) than the JawSaw's battery. But given all the advantages of the JawSaw, I still think that it is a bargain.