I'm looking for a router for home / hobby use.

I know I want variable speed, and I want a plunge-type, not a fixed base, although most plunge routers I saw at Lowes came with a fixed base you could use if you wanted (if I do anything with it I'd be mounting the fixed base to a homemade router table).

My options for getting one locally are Hitachi ($179), Dewalt ($229) or Porter Cable ($279).  All have more-or-less the exact same specs, and all would meet my needs.

I know Porter-Cable has an outstanding reputation, and I've been happy with the Dewalt tools I've got.  Hitachi is the unknown.

While I don't mind spending money for quality, I do have to question wether the Dewalt is $50 better than the Hitachi, and Porter Cable is $100 better.

So what say you on Hitachi power tools, and which router should I get?

I've used all of those at one time or another on jobsites, plus a few others and you will get good service out of any of the name brands.

I have a Porter Cable set and it's one of my favorite tools, I personally feel it is the most versitile of them all, but not the most powerfull. I used it for all kinds of things from detail work up to doing large radius cuts on black walnut to make a custum bull nose for a julliete balcony.

For brute work I like the Bosch.


ETA: For ther record, this is the Porter Cable set I have.



LINK

And the Bosch I was talking about



LINK

Porter Cable

I got a Skil but am not completely happy with it.  First of all, it has both bases.  Sure, one is plunge and the other fixed but neither tracks well.  I have a different brand collar base and tried using it for lock/hinge inletting with a template.  What I found is the bit can only be centered for a single depth of cut, otherwise the bit will not track correctly, leaving a poor quality. For inletting a strike plate, hinge or bolt plate, it is ok because with a 7/16" straight cut, it can be made in one pass and the collar can be centered.  But it is crap for a mortise job.

bosch kit is definitely a great buy  

www.woodnet.net/forums/

Try asking or looking around here for advice.
You should also be thinking about the size of cutters you will use in your router.
Try and get 1/2" shank ones where you can.

Great link, thanks!

I think I'm going to get the Bosch kit if I can find one -- should take care of everything I see myself doing with it.

Thanks again to everyone.