spacewood

I have a Home Depot right next to me...as a power DIY'r, I've spent a lot of time there. They have mostly benchtop saws. I've been to a local Rockler - but they only carry SawStop and the fancy Delta's. I think I've just located another woodworking shop near by...I might head there next week. I hear ya about the large table top. That's one key thing for me, moving up from a benchtop. the other is a good fence and straight miter slots (mine are wavy, nothing slides smooth and thus there's always a fair amount of slop). i'll definitely be getting wheels - small shop, garage really, shared with the motorcycle. Thanks for the help!

Are there any particular features you've found in any tablesaws that you "couldn't live without" after using them? Jet seems to be the more affordable brand, and they easiest to obtain. I tend to think long and hard about purchases of this magnitude though, I want to be convinced. Thanks

My biggest desire to move up from the small saw is the accuracy issue. I want a good fence. The craftsman in the toolcrib article above sounds cool...but no riving knife. After reading, I really like the idea of a riving knife. What about the lesser known brands (lesser known outside of woodworking professionals maybe) like Steel City, General, Grizzly?

After several years of using a very good but non the less limited benchtop table saw (perfect size when my workshop was my balcony), I'm ready to step up and buy a real saw. I'm looking in the $1000 range, "hybrid" table saw. Can anyone offer their opinion or experience with the various brands out there and what would be a good buy? I know a lot of changes have been happening due to lawsuits and such. There are quite a few brands and I'm not quite sure which way to go. Thanks, J