As with anything, you only get what you pay for....if you are only planning on using it once in a while, store brands aren't bad. But if you plan on using it everyday, for 2 to 3 hrs a day, it won't last a week.
Things to check for on a mitre saw:
-Rigidness: grab onto the handle, and the base, and torque it back and forth, if there is any play, that could result in kickback or crappy cuts (out of square etc)
- Check the switch: is it sloppy or precise?
- Check the stops at each angle: is it easy to change the blade angle or do you have to tighten screws etc to hold it in place?
- How high is the rear fence? If it is short, you won't be able to cut compound angles on crown mouldings etc
- What kind of a blade does it come with? Most likely a crappy blade. For eg: a good cross cut blade can run you 80 to 100 bucks and you'll need at least 2 different types
If you're seriously looking for a good saw, homo depot has a deal on where you buy a 10" dewalt and get a free 18 volt drill. I think it's going for $298 or something and the drill is worth 2 bills....
