I try to buy poulans for less than $100. If your mind is made up then brand is mute, but I always get the longest bar and chain it will pull. You would really be surprised how much 2" makes when stooping down or trying to get that limp just out of reach. I got to be careful esp. on reaching up, I'm getting weak and can't hold it up like I used to. Had a buddy that was cutting overhead and let it come down across his leg, a bunch of stitches and six months later good as new, well not really, nothing is as good as when you were 20, except hind sight and I've forgot a lot of that.

I have to say get the smallest bar you will need as the longer you go the more filing you will do, more weight, more there to bend, more expensive, and the more it robs the engine of power- especially when you are talking about a small saw.

I did look at battery but couldn't justify the additional cost vs. run time. Yes, I won't use it very often but when I do the run times will not be long enough with out additional, expensive batteries. I would rather properly maintain a gas saw

With your low use, go battery. It will always start if the battery is charged, no matter how long it sits.

MS 170 Stihl, During dealer days, or during a sale $159.00 regular $179.00 I use this saw for all my trim work. I use a Stihl 261C for all bucking and bigger stuff. the 170 is a little workhorse,