cps

Update -- I did stop by HD this afternoon. Good news: they did have some DC970s for sale at $119. Unfortunately, they didn't have any on display so I couldn't compare the "feel" of them to the DC720 (which they did have on display but without a battery) or the DC760 (which they had on display with a battery). More information is always better, now I if only could make a decision... cps

Thanks for the additional excellent info! Just to follow up (in case anyone else cares), elsewhere on DOG and at the DeWalt site (support), I found that the DC9098 is 1.2 Ah whereas the DC9099 is 1.7Ah. That seems to be a significant difference in favor of the 759 (assuming one can find it with the DC9099) over the 970, and another selling point for the 720 (in addition to the more advanced motor, nice housing, and light). Waiting, unfortunately, has never been my strong point, but who knows... cps

Excellent! Thank you very much. I think I was on the right track, but I probably would never have guessed that the DC970K-2 and the DC759KA were the SAME! And as much as I like their tools, DeWalt should probably rethink naming newer, improved tools with lower numbers (as a mathematician, I can assert that there is an order implicit in the notion of "greater than"). So why go from DC759KA TO DC720KA. Yikes! Now all I have to do is decide whether to go with the 970/759 at $120 (haven't checked HD, but that's what it's going for online at CPO) or cough up another $80 (for the 720) or $100 (for the 760)! Maybe if they actually have both of them at HD, I'll see what they feel like. It's fun having the latest/greatest, but next year there will be something else and I don't really use the tools on a daily basis (If I did, it would be an easy choice -- the 760.) Thanks again, Charlie p.s. I checked the old Makita -- it's actually a 12V and it's 14 years old!

Don't worry, I'm usually confused. Anyway, I think it might be time to replace my at least 10-year old, 14.4v Makita Drill Driver. I've been moving toward DeWalt tools and appreciate my DeWalt miter saw and corded drill. In addition, I was quite impressed by the literal trailer-load of DeWalt tools the builder who put up our new garage and breezeway had -- I kidded him that he should contact DeWalt to do a commercial! So, I started checking things out... Here are 3 drills I came across (links are to the CPO site because I could find them all there -- ignore the fact that one is only available there as a reconditioned model). DC970K-2 http://www.cpopowertools.com/dewalt-dc970k-2-18v-cordless-1-2-in-adjustable-clutch-drill-driver-kit/dewndc970k-2,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=dewalt-top-sellers DC759KA http://www.cpopowertools.com/factory-reconditioned-dewalt-dc759kar-18v-cordless-1-2-in-compact-drill-driver-kit/dewrdc759kar,default,pd.html?start=23&cgid=dewalt-cordless-drills DC720KA http://www.cpopowertools.com/dewalt-dc720ka-18v-cordless-1-2-in-compact-drill-driver-kit/dewndc720ka,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=dewalt-top-sellers#prReview Am I just looking at newer models? The 970 and the 759 seem to share the housings and chucks. The 720 seems to have the newer housing/grip and a (from the picture) different chuck. The specs I can find for the 970 and the 759 seem identical. The 720 seems a bit lighter and has a higher (420 vs. 380) MUWO. Am I missing something else? I'm looking at these because I don't think I need much more than a compact. I also think NiCad batteries will be sufficient and I'm not sure I want to pay the increased tariff to go to LiIon. Likewise, if I can get last year's (or even the year before's) model at a good price, I'm sure it will be sufficient for my needs. [i work in an office all day, and while I wish I could use power tools on my colleagues sometimes, I only get to use my tools for weekend projects.] Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks, Charlie