I think I am going to LOVE this saw. I cut something a little while ago and John said that he didn't even hear the saw running! I scroll in the next room so this is a major bonus.
A brief word about the way it was packed. The saw was very securely packed - bolted to a board and surrounded by foam. The cardboard box had thick reinforcement cardboard in the corners and was double boxed. The saw came with a blade mounted on the machine and a package of sample blades.
The most significant challenge for me is learning to change the blade. That sounds rather simple but the process is completely different than that of the Hegner saw, the one I have been using for 20+ years! I am sure that I will get better at it - I even managed to change it and cut with it today.
Top feeding the blade has several challenges. One is not only feeding through a piece of wood (of course), then through the hole in the table but also but managing to get the blade through a hole in a plastic membrane under the table. The membrane appears to be part of the vacuum system. It's possible that the hole in the membrane may ultimately become the same size as the hole in the table but it currently is not. Another problem is that there is a lever under the table that appears to support this same membrane. The lever can be moved to either side, but does seem necessary to support the membrane. It also seems to provide better support of the membrane if left in the center position or to the right. It is in the way in either location. Add in the fact that I am left handed and have to reach through or around it with my right hand to get to the toggle on the blade clamp which is located on the right side of the blade clamp mechanism. (Chuckling at this point is acceptable).
So I believe that this is a great saw. The only learning curve I see so far is getting use to changing the blade. Beyond that it cuts beautifully. It's quiet and runs smoothly. I'm impressed.
I can't believe that I forgot to mention that the table is HUGE - roughly 23: x 13", much larger than the Hegner.