Thanks for all the comments, youse. I'll address some things below:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LesterSnodgrass 
My dad has been a carpenter for his entire life. He swears by Milwaukee for electric drill motors, ... No self respecting carpenter owns a cordless screwdriver. Standard or phillips, you can get a crafstman or snap-on for a few bucks. If it is a drill motor you want, the Makita is great for handywork around the house, or for larger jobs that a two and a half volt black and decker can't handle.
I'm not a carpenter, and not using this for carpentry. This is mainly for around-my-tiny-apartment work. Also, the article I read was quoting someone who I believe was a career electrical worker. I can see why that person would find a screwdriver a lot handier than a drill...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dmax If you don't need to get into tight spaces I recommend getting a cordless drill instead of a cordless screwdriver unless you already have one.
I will leave the brand selection to you but all the names mentioned make decent tools. Generally, I like the brands that make tools for professional market as well as the hobbyist homeowner.
I often do need it for tight spaces, or for example, for drilling a screw into a wall high up. I own a decent DeWalt power drill, and it works great, but really impossible for difficult or overhead or awkward hand positions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rambo Actually, cordless screwdrivers can be very handy. I do a ton of computer building and it's a very big time saver for me. If you are building furniture or hanging things around the house then it's all you really need. Not everybody is putting up cabinets.
I do a lot of work with vintage electronics, they'd be helpful for me in this way, also. And hanging stuff up around the little apartment, for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
j I also don't understand power screwdrivers. The main problem with screwdrivers IMO is that they are not nearby when I need one, so I own many of them, undoubtedly over 8-10 each of standard/phillips. That would add up to a lot of money in cordless screwdrivers. They also tend not to be much faster than I could twist screws myself, and require recharging etc... I guess I just don't see the point. But that's just me.
I was recently trying to install this Ikea coat rack into my wall above my head. The power drill did the holes, but I couldn't get the clearance to put the actual screw in. I could not get the manual screwdriver to put the screw in while I was holding the rack against the wall. Unfortunately, since I live in a studio in NYC, things are a tight fit, and I often have to do the work alone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
distinctive Check the latest consumer reports
Ah, not a fan of consumer reports. Many of the things they value I'm not really all that hot after. I prefer well-designed durability and proven track records over 'value' to consumers. I guess I'm more of a pro-sumer in that way. Also why I come to random places like this to ask for advice, rather than reading in consumer reports
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I think I'm leaning towards something like the Milwaukee. Though the popular mechanics article linked above lists them as being 'underpowered', they said a newer, higher-powered model is coming (Li-Ion instead of NiCad), and they said it was the 'best balanced.' I'll also look at some of the other suggestions you all listed. Again, though, I really don't need a power drill: I'm plenty happy with my DeWalt 12.2 volt (I think) cordless.
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