This sander also has a variable-speed dial that lets you match the speed of the belt with the application, so you can speed up for aggressive removal or dial down for more precision. We really like the 360-degree adjustable top dust nozzle--a feature you won't find on many belt sanders--because it lets you pivot the dust bag (or hose if you're hooked up to a dust vac), a huge convenience when sanding in corners or along edges. And, lastly, this is a quiet sander, thanks both to Porter-Cable's newly designed gear system, which meshes more accurately, and to the sander's serpentine drive belt, which makes considerably less noise than a more common cog system. For a belt sander, this tool is surprisingly easy on the ears, and that's a very good thing. --Jon Groebner