Summary:
I love it!

Strengths:
Wow, I have used a many a chainsaws in my time but this HAS to be the strongest boss of them all. It can cut through anything you want it to. I thought that I would try it out on the bush next to my house and it tore right through the thing, almost ma bloomin house an all. It was mad. It has a lot of power to it. I bought this mainly because my other chainsaw kept stopping at the bigger boys but this one tears through anything and Im glad I purchased it. It was a fine purchase and I recommend any of yas to purchase it too.

Weaknesses:
It can be a bit hard to control at times.

Summary:
EASE OF USE, GOOD BALANCE, OVERALL RUGGED SAW FOR HOMEOWNER/LANDSCAPER.

Strengths:
OF ALL THE CHAINSAWS THAT I HAVED EITHER USED OR SERVICED, I HAVE FOUND THIS SAW WITH THE 20" BAR TO BE IDEAL FOR MY USE.

Weaknesses:
IT TAKES 4 PULLS TO START.

Summary:
KICKS BUTT HERE IN THE BIG TIMBER COUNTRY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA..NOW IF WE CAN JUST KEEP THOSE IDIOT LEFT WING ENVIRONUTS OUT OF OUR FORESTS IT WILL BE A GOOD DAY.

Strengths:
A BULL OF SAW..WANTS TO CUT ALL DAY AND NIGHT! VERY WELL MADE..ITS A REAL MANS SAW..AND IN THE RIGHT HANDS WITH THE 20-BAR CAN CUT THROUGH THE VERY TOUGHEST OF JOBS. NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT IT..IT EVEN PULLS HARD IN THE DEAD OF WINTER MY FRIENDS.

Weaknesses:
IT DOESNT MAKE ME BREAKFASTS IN THE MORNING

Summary:
last one lasted 5 yrs ovf heavy use- replaced only due to fact that 1 of my workers ran it over w/ truck- very satisfied

Strengths:
excellent power to wt ratio-a real work saw

Weaknesses:
none at present

Summary:
very disapointed bought it new two years ago first time using it it kept stalling after 15 minutes of hard use took it back to dealer he put a new plug in it and same thing. took it back to dealer he kept it for a few days and could not duplicate problem took it out to the woods same problem took it to the dealer told him you have to run it for 15 min. his exact words were i dont have time to stand here and run it that long, now about every other time i use it the throttle linkage falls apart in between its stalling i have to fix in woods while my boy laughs and his 120 dollar poulan wild thing just keeps running and running. this is the fourth saw ive owned 2 macs 1 still 021 and this is by far the worst anyone want to buy a nice looking stihl ms 290 looks like new im going to try husky or jonsered

Strengths:
good power and smooth

Weaknesses:
starts hard after it gets warmed up it keeps stalling when going from high speed down to idle

Summary:
very good saw so far, blows my home depot poulan pro away, and the poulan is not a bad saw. at least the stihl is made in the u.s.a. in south carolina from imported parts???

Strengths:
the stihl ms290 seems like a ass kicking mid range saw,with power to spare,...... if you let the saw do the cutting.i was impressed how smooth it cut, altough.....if i pushed a little harder it cut faster, to a point of course, its only a midrange saw and the balance is good.mine came with a 18 inch bar but i could see where a 20inch would be handy

Weaknesses:
it takes about 4 to5 pulls to get it going, and if it sets while its idleing it stalled if you pulled the trigger to fast, when your moving brush ect.

Summary:
I really like the saw it has power to spare and never has let me down.one of the better saws i have used

Strengths:
good power,very reliable

Weaknesses:
cold start takes to many pulls,a bit heavy (if you have some extra $$ consider the 260 the power to weight is noticeable)...

Summary:
Expensive saw but well worth the money.

Strengths:
It puts my snapper S1838 to shame. It is rough and tough it wore me out in two hours.

Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet.

Summary:
husky is better than stihl

Strengths:
i hate them

Weaknesses:
too damn slow, my 346 cutd twice as fast it's only 3.3hpms 290 has 3.8 hp

Summary:
Very disappointed.

Strengths:
Nice saw when it is running. Easy to use, powerful.

Weaknesses:
Very hard to start. Was hard starting out of the box. My dealer gets it going, but next time I use it I have lots of trouble getting it started. I guess I no longer have the strength at 62. Maybe I got a lemon, Sorry I bought it. I have spent more time trying to get it going than I have used it to cut wood. I am back to using my old beat up saw.

Summary:
This is a great saw for anyone who is looking to do some fire wood cutting! I would recomend this saw to everyone looking. I have never run out of power!

Strengths:
Very powerful and reliable! I have used it very regularly for three months or so and have had no problems. I havent been easy on it by any means either.

Weaknesses:
It has none that I have found

Summary:
perfect except for its one weakness

Strengths:
Heavy duty saw. great weight and feeling in your hands. it is a pretty large saw especially compared to the 346xp that it is compared to and will smoke any husky. cuts very quick and fast and almost no vibration felt. have an 036, and have had an 029 like this for 12years. ive still got them all and these two ms290's for 4 years a piece and i just bought a new one. dont by a husky or poulan or jonsered. they simple cant handle it trust me i know. ther's a reason stihl costs more. You simply get what you paid for and usually less if you dont have a stihl. and if you have had another brand for a long time without problems then you're very lucky dont gamble again buy a stihl chainsaw.

Weaknesses:
it isn't remote controlled and doesnt cut by itself.

Summary:
Great saw, highly recommended i cut a lot of wood and this makes it easy..

Strengths:
Its a animal plenty of power

Weaknesses:
Takes a few pulls to get started

Summary:
Buy it it's worth the money you will be happy.

Strengths:
Starts every time even though it takes a couple extra pulls, don't lie your husky doesn't always start right away. Good saw.

Weaknesses:
Wished it pulled a bigger bar.

Summary:
stihl makes the best damn chainsaws on earth dont buy any other brand

Strengths:
kicks husky ass

Weaknesses:
none

Summary:
Reason why I post .325 characteristics is since I cut/fell over 5 cords/yr + at work I perform same for 550 acres - the .325 chain doesn't do as well as a 3/8ths chain (read a more "aggressive" chain). Added $80 solution is purchase an interchangeable drum/sprocket combo/3/8ths bar/and 3/8ths chain-heck of an improvement over an already good product. Again, my 029 Farm Boss is 16+ yrs old and I steel use it regularly.

Strengths:
Original Stihl Mod 029 "Farm Boss" from 1994. In 2008/09 Stihl added an Online Dealer Network for parts. 16" bar will cut you a 32" tree (approx). Can upgrade on own to different bar/chain size (see more below).

Weaknesses:
Owner Error(s) can wear out bars, dull chains in a snap!! Few to no promotions/coupons. Proprietary .325 chain (low kick) is NOT the most aggressive.

Summary:
Overall this is a great saw for the price. Plus you know when you buy a Stihl product it is the best you can buy.

Strengths:
I recently purchased a Stihl MS290 Farm Boss at my local Stihl Dealership and I have had great luck with it. I have used my uncles 1971 Stihl Farm Boss, and Grandfathers 1971 Stihl 031AV for the past eight or nine years;and this saw has just as much power. I know from those two saws, and all the wood that has been cut with those saws, Stihl makes the BEST saw you can buy. This saw has plenty of power and cuts much nicer than several other Huskys I have used.

Weaknesses:
There really is no weaknesses with this saw. My saw starts up with-in three pulls everytime.

Summary:
Overall it is the best saw I have ever used. Hands down

Strengths:
If your looking for a strong saw to handle all your timber problems around the house or on the farm, look no further. I use it to clear under brush, and to drop 18" DIA trees. As long as I keep the blade sharp, and the bar lubed, I never have any problems. It starts in 1-3 pulls and cuts like a beaver on crack.

Weaknesses:
With a saw to handle big jobs comes wieght. After several hours of use out in hthe heat, 13 pounds gets heavy...... Secoundly you have to be carful not to flud the crab. But byfollowing the proper instructions this is not a real problem.

Summary:
This is saw is the real deal when it comes down to it! I got so sick and tired of burning up cheap saws and decided it was time to make a purchase that I DO NOT REGRET. I run it with high octane fuel and synthetic oil with a chisel chain and it tears away at even the hardest wood without a flinch. Husky's are just Poulans painted orange don't be fooled STIHL is NUMBER ONE WORLDWIDE!

Strengths:
Work horse, " The real deal.", Lots of power, vibration system. This chainsaw is not a toy it's a piece of equipment you have to know how to GET SOME before trying to start it. STIHL IS NUMBER ONE WORLDWIDE and they make chainsaws that are easier to start then conventional saws know what you are looking for.

Weaknesses:
My local dealership did not include a carrying case with the saw, I think for the investment they can spare the money and include a case.

Summary:
Most saws have similiar reliability- difference is in ergonomics, HP vs weight, operating RPM's. Stihl has a turd on their hands with this saw, and most of their others- read any professional arborist website or talk to real arborists/loggers and you will not find many choosing a similiar Stihl over Husky 346xp's or 2153 Jonsered. I have never had a Stihl that has not given me major problems- usually with starting- and the MS-290 is no different.

Strengths:
None when compared to pro saws.

Weaknesses:
Heavy and slow compared to Husky and Jonsered. Typical Stihl poor starting. Cost is higher for lower performance. You are paying for the Stihl advertising which is really the only reason that people still buy these outdated saws. This is NOT a pro saw, it is not advertised to be.

Summary:
Other than the hard starting after storage, I am satisfied with this saw. I purchased it as a replacement(with 18 inch bar, .325 chain) for my trusty old McCulloch Pro Mac 1010 with a 20 inch bar. The old Mac is still a 1 to 2 pull to start even after 24 years, but sadly repair parts are no longer available. Hopefully the new Stihl will give me the same service, as it is a very easy saw to grow attached to.

Strengths:
Plenty of grunt. Seems to be built solid and rips through anything in its way.

Weaknesses:
Starts hard after sitting for a few weeks...took about 10 pulls to start it today. If used for several days in a row, it starts on second pull. Also seems to me that the high RPM dulls chain quicker.

Summary:
a strong running saw, but like a beautiful woman need acute attention. fuel is the main culprit that can beat any small engine down and Stihl is no exception. stay over 3 hp, go bigger if a lot of cutting is to be expected.

Strengths:
work really great when new, have the best carring case.

Weaknesses:
are really hard to start, and lack of knowledge why leads to tinkering with run adjustments. this leads to overheating and scoring of piston and cylinders. these saws require more consideration than the old day. hi test gas, carbcleaners, and more frequent shop visits to stay in sharp running condition.

Summary:
Suggest you buy some other reputable chainsaw.

Strengths:
lightweight, no vibration

Weaknesses:
Hard to start, stalls at idling, and hard to restart. Used saw one week past warranty and it saw melted down for some reason (rings and piston). Dealer immediately said poor gas mixture. I used a fresh batch prior. Sent to company for inspection. No reason given for failure. Dealer then said saw was overrevved. I did not change any factory settings. I cut about 10 cords of firewood with it before the meltdown. Very disappointed with no help from dealer or company as why it happened. I dont want to risk buying another one that only works for 10 cords of wood.

Summary:
BEST SAW FOR THE MONEY.I WILL ONLY BUY STIHL FROM NOW ON.

Strengths:
REAL WORK HORSE.MINE HAS BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE WITH LITTLE MAITNENCE.ONLY TIME IVE SPENT MONEY ON REPAIR IS WHEN I RAN OVER IT WITH THE TRACTOR.PLASTIC DIDNT HOLD UP, GO FIGURE.

Weaknesses:
NONE

Summary:
Stihl's MS290 is a re-made 029 Farm Boss which I have had for over 10 years. This saw is a quality saw for people with light to medium needs, better than any consumer saw out there in this range. This saw is appropriately powered for a 16" bar, perhaps OK for an 18" and definitely underpowered for a 20" bar. Do not purchase this saw if you need a larger bar than 18", buy a more powerful one. (Note Stihl's recommended bar length is 16" - this should tell you something!) If you are a farmer / rancher, large acreage owner or any professional purchase a more powerful Stihl saw. Suitable for homeowners who do not have to cut trees and use mostly on 6-16 inch firewood.

Strengths:
1. Good firewood saw for previously downed trees, as long as tree diameter is not over 20". OK felling saw for small trees (up to 12"). 2. Excellent quality and reliability leading to longevity if [properly cared for). 3. Stihl's recommended bar length of 16" is the correct length. 4. No saws sold in mass merchandisers such as homelite, poulan, etc hold a candle to this saw.

Weaknesses:
1. Underpowered for a 20 inch bar / chain. Should not be sold as being a capable saw with a 20 inch bar. Bogs down if you use it where you would need a 20" bar, even if you allow for proper chip clearing. 2. Seems to go through chains and bars quickly. 3. Not recommended for felling trees over 16" no matter how infrequently you do it, unless you know what you are doing and use the 16" bar.

Summary:
I bought my MS-290 back in 2001 for cutting firewood. The only failure that I ever had was a cracked fuel line which made the saw hard to start and made it run poorly due to reduced fuel flow. In general, the saw is only hard to start if it hasn't be run for a week or more. Once it sits a week, it can take up to ten pulls to get it going. If the saw has been run recently, it usually starts on the first pull. My saw is very easy to restart (one pull!). I use a full chisel chain (stihl rapid super) on an 18" bar and find that the saw cuts quite fast. The reduced kickback chain doesn't cut as fast and seems to dull faster than the full chisel chain. It's been a great value and has survived a bit of abuse. It has outlasted two of my dad's box mart saws and is still going strong.

Strengths:
Reliable, durable, and very affordable. It has good power for a mid range grade saw.

Weaknesses:
No primer bulb to assist with starting. Hard to start if it has been in storage for a while.

Summary:
good excirze machine when starting but after getting it running damn good cutting machine

Strengths:
cuts really well chews up every peice of wood it touches good pwer to weight ration i use the saw everyday

Weaknesses:
hard as hell to start i have to pull on this damn thing twenty times when i first start it in the mouring then i hit the gas and it stalls pull on it 10 more times

Summary:
i would recomend this saw to anyone wanted a good reliable saw.

Strengths:
This year was my first one and so far im not dissapointed. my dad has the 310 and just recently we added the 290. we cut wood for selling through out the year and these two are extremely better than our past other brands.

Weaknesses:
my only issue was the chain. i grased some rebar while cutting a tree and the chain dulled. i spent so much time trying to get it sharp, until finally i bought this bar mounted sharpener and my troubles are no more

Summary:
I have cut many, many large oaks with this. Wish the bar were longer.

Strengths:
Pretty in orange. High RPM's. Seems to go forever on tank of gas. I have never had a problem starting this saw. Just make sure you have fresh gas. One pull after sitting for three months.

Weaknesses:
Was in shop three times the first two months. Burned out clutch and brake. Manual 'says' to start with brake on. Neglects to tell you it must be taken off immediately upon starting. Further, it kept stopping and the dealer said it was my fault that I didn't know how to use it. (My ninth saw I told him). Finally, (after another shop looked at it)a dealer said, "No wonder it is giving you problems. The bar is bent." Ergo, the issues.

Summary:
A very good running and reliable saw. It will serve the homeowner to the professional. This thing is very solid and is built to please.

Strengths:
Great saw have ran mine about everyday for work and yet to have a problem with it. Mine runs a full chisel chain and cutts wood at an amazing rate but has a tendencey to kick Full chisel is not really recommended for new or very occational saw runners.

Weaknesses:
May take a few pulls to get it running.

Summary:
Kicks a$$ over any other brand but think the ms260 for weight to power ratio would be bettter deal depending on the money u want to spend but ms250 will do most people we cut wood for 4 households so its not like i dont know anything. Just my opinion though and u know how opinoins are everyone has one kinda like aholes but some peoples stink worse than others.

Strengths:
Good running saws ive had 2 of the 029 supers absolutely loved them. I have currently 2 ms290s good saws but leaning toward the ms 250 for the average day. I cut wood with 2 bro in laws they both have ms250s with 18 inch bars like i have on my ms290 and a fella can run that 250 circles around my 290. I like the bigger saw when im cuttin something 20 inches in diameter or bigger but other than that the 250 is cheaper and faster. Only reason i have 2 of em is one stupid neighbour that needed some cash. Kinda hard to pass on a second one that has cut 2 loads of wood for a 100 bucks.

Weaknesses:
Cold starting S.O.B. ticks me off everytime i start it. Wear yourself out before u get started and i been running saws for 10-15 yrs.

Summary:
I love this thing. When I bought it I was chosing between a husky 455 rancher and this ms290. The stihl is lighter has more power and with the 20" bar was $40.00 cheaper. I bought the stihl and could not be more happy with it. I saw people on here comparing it to a husky 346 I checked real quick. Right now the 346 sells for $490 the ms290 sells for $370. If you want a prosaw stihl makes them too, for a price. For the average user the ms290 is great.

Strengths:
Great power and relable. I have had mine for 4 years now and it has never let me down. I cut around 40-50 face cord of fire wood a year. I run a 20" bar and full chizel chain. For a low priced midrange saw this things great.

Weaknesses:
could use a primer ball for cold starts.

Summary:
I recommend this saw.

Strengths:
Great working saw, although of course there are better saws available, but it is the same as everything else. You need to spend more money to get them. This saw is great for doing firewood and cutting down a few trees. A good purchase for anyone needing a home use saw.

Weaknesses:
A bit heavy. Price makes up for that though.

Summary:
Saw WAS awesome. Mine had a very obvious defect in the handle (broke on a seam). When it broke (one month after purchase, third time out), the weight of the saw busted open the engine housing as well. Stihl says its my fault and the bill will be $400. I paid $479 for the entire saw. So now I have a $479 glued together brand new chainsaw. Sweet! I realize this isnt a typical scenario for Stihl as they have a great reputation. Just sharing the story.

Strengths:
Cuts wood really really good while in one piece.

Weaknesses:
I hope you get one of the good ones, cuz if you don't you're gonna have to deal with Stihl dealers. I assume that they don't have to do a lot of warranty claims cuz when one walks in the door they have no clue.

Summary:
4 out of 5

Strengths:
Has plenty of power for mid saw range. Maintnence summed up for this saw is siplicity. The oil and gas caps come off a easy thread. The best thing I like about this saw is that unlike huskies there is no chain break on the outside of the bar and it is built on the inside. This makes chain replacing easy.

Weaknesses:
The air filter gets plugged easly due to the quick detachment of the hind panel. This chokes the engine and decreases power unless to clean the air filter frequently.

Summary:
I have had this saw for 5 years now, I use it about 8-10 times a year, for small and big fire wood cutting jobs. Has not let me down yet. I like the free Heavy Duty carry case I got when I bought the saw(special deal at the time). Stihl is the best, my dad's old model (011) ran for 20 years, can't beat that.

Strengths:
Strong cutting saw, plenty of power . Not too bad on fuel for a saw this powerful. Starts easy after it has been running and is warm. Added a longer bar and chain than what came standard with the saw. This saw is a beast!

Weaknesses:
Almost too heavy, will wear you out if you don't take enough breaks. Had an issue with the chain lubrication hole not being quite large enough, bar would almost run dry. Took it back to dealer, problem fixed in 30 minutes. Takes several tries to start when cold or not running for a while.

Summary:
will use no other saw but a stihl, a have used and worked on other saws, would buy no other saw. im a stihl gold service tech, also i would take your saw to a gold service center only

Strengths:
have 2 ms 290, 1 ms 440, 1 ms 170, 1 ms 210, 1 ms 250, i use the ms 290 the most the ms 440 has gotton to heavy and hard to start for me after stroke. 290 with 20" bars ans .325 chain ahve used a 3/8 chain on one saw it is to large of a chain for. also if your saw has 3/8 chain on it i would put .325 chain on it you will see the differance right away.

Weaknesses:
great saw. to the people that have hard starting, make sure you use fresh fuel, no more then 30 days old, and no alcohol in fuel. do not leave fuel in saw.

Summary:
Great saw when it runs, getting there is no fun though

Strengths:
Love to use the saw, when i can get it started, see Weaknesses below. Kind of sun to rest the saw on a felled log and pull the trigger and just watch the blade drop through the log. very little vibration and i really like the oil and fuel fillers.

Weaknesses:
Starting this saw is a nightmare. last weekend i even thought i might just hang it out an open drivers door and dtag it on the pavement to see if i could jump start it. a saw that will not start is of no use to me. when runs it's a joy to use but the no start feature is one option Stihl should drop.

Summary:
Sucks, it won't start. I just bought it today, read the manual and can not get the saw to start to save my life. Ridiculous. I've been around every type of piece of equipment with small engines my entire life and I've never seen a new "quality" saw not start. Hopefully I can figure this out.

Strengths:
Don't know

Weaknesses:
Can't get it started

Summary:
Any one who thinks these saws have power haven't run a real saw

Strengths:
Runs good

Weaknesses:
Heavy, under powered

Summary:
There a lot better saws for the money out there.

Strengths:
It runs

Weaknesses:
Heavy, low on power, should be rated at 3hp

Summary:
Stihl sure fools a lot of people with the over rated HP on this saw, it should be around 3.1 or 3.2

Strengths:
Stihl name

Weaknesses:
Heavy, no power , built cheap

Summary:
I don't know, it won't start. My brother has one and it runs great. What's wrong with mine.

Strengths:
I don't know. I have had it one week. The dealer put the bar and chain on it, filled it with gas/oil mix and chain oil, and then started it and let it run for a few seconds. I bring it home. One week later I try to start it. No luck. I thought maybe it was flooded after several pulls so I took the spark plug out and dried it off.(Twice)I noticed oil maybe with a little gas in it coming out of the exhast in the front of the saw. I'm taking it back tomorrow. It's going to be very hard to convince me that this saw is nothing but crap.

Weaknesses:
Won't start.

Summary:
The MS290 is a man's saw.Has plenty of power and will cut pine to gum with ease. I run a 20 inch bar with a fuill chisel .325 chain for larger jobs and a 16 inch bar with a full chisel .325 for pruning and smaller firewood cutting. You WILL NOT find a better saw for the money anywhere else than Stihl. If you keep air filter claen, bar maintained, chain sharpened, and fuel mix right, you will not find abetter saw.

Strengths:
Power is plentiful Comfortable to use Weight not that bad. Screams with high octane fuel and Stihl 2 cycle oil.

Weaknesses:
None what so ever.

Summary:
It cuts wood but not very fast, heavy

Strengths:
Price

Weaknesses:
Heavy, underpowered

Summary:
Great saw for the money I paid, yeah I don't like Husky's have cut with many, never needed to look further than a Stihl myself. Is it worth new dealer price, that I can't say, I would guess so personally, but the dealer prices are a bit steep.

Strengths:
Cuts great, excellent power for the weight. I don't know all the complaints on Stihl starting, like so many have said, read the manual or watch the video. I bought mine for $250 like brand new from a local pawn, 2 dull and one sharp chain, bar like new, obvious newbie who couldn't even file a chain. Had been sitting there with the same ole gas for months, finally talked myself into it to upgrade my old 026. Started in 3 pulls, just like any, and god knows how old the fuel was, looked "thick."

Weaknesses:
Yeah the chain. But it isn't terrible, and if one wants I presume a 3/8" bar, chain, sprocket can be found.

Summary:
2 out of 5.

Strengths:
Rugged, easy to remove housing for access to plug, air filter, etc.

Weaknesses:
Heavy, under powered, .325 kerf severely limits chain selection. Needs a decomp. valve. Upgrade immediately to a skip tooth chain, stock chain kills saw's performance. I had the saw for slightly under a year and it died in the field. Brought it to a reputable shop (family friend owns it) and they identified a cracked piston / busted fuel squirter due to bad fuel. Not covered under Stihl warranty. Well, I've only put Echo or Stihl two stroke mix in the saw (50:1) and the day it died the gas was new as of that morning. If you're going to buy a MS290, save another $100 and buy the MS391. Same weight, 16% more power with a flatter power curve, and a decomp valve.

Summary:
Returning to dealer Monday.

Strengths:
Yet to find one. Reputation of brand is not held up with this PoS.

Weaknesses:
Very disappointed. Damn thing won't start. Bought it Tuesday. Dealer spent maybe 5 mins trying to start it. Once warmed up, it started right up. I brought it out to the cottage today, won't start. It is going back Monday. I pulled out my ancient little Sears saw to do what I had to do today. Maybe it won't go in the yard sale quite yet.

Summary:
Good saw now but out of the box was crap with fuel line problem need better quality program at factory!

Strengths:
Happy with saw now runs perfect!

Weaknesses:
When new from store ran like crap very pissed! It was finaly figured out from the factory it had a pinched fuel line!

Summary:
This chainsaw is a real screamer. Keeping the chain sharp and auto-oiler adjusted is crucial, as it is with any saw. This one cuts almost twice as fast as my Jonsered.

Strengths:
My MS-290 has plenty of power. Great shop sold it to me, and taught me it's starting quirks and a few tips on running it. This thing really tears through the white oak, red oak and maple I'm cutting. Compared to my old Jonsered, this is a much finer and more well built machine. Noticeably lower vibration, much much more power. I have the 18" bar and it's perfect.

Weaknesses:
Takes a few pulls to start.... so did the Jonsered... no big deal, it's part of the landscape unless you're running a saw with no compression or a compression release. Also, 13lbs makes it a good heavy saw, but since it cuts very fast, you can still work efficiently.

Summary:
great

Strengths:
i wrok in tlc i fix a lot of saws but not meney sthills they are the best saw a rond.

Weaknesses:
full pip but mostly cos people live full in them wen not in use

Summary:
Garbage. A waste of money.

Strengths:
None.

Weaknesses:
After 2 years of of very little use the saw is now junk. The technician tells me carbon deposits got caught in the cyclinder and scared it. Will not start, no compression.

Summary:
good

Strengths:
POWERFUL ,RELIABLE AND EASY TO START AFTER SOLVING THE FUEL/OIL PROBLEM.

Weaknesses:
Difficult to start for a short time. after experimenting with different oil brands I learned to use super tech 2 stroke air cooled oil (2.6 oz.)mixied with one oz. of amsoil and a gasoline sold locally without ethanol.This mix allows easy starting a clean burn and good power.

Summary:
great saw ive learned that this saw runs great on 89 octane and echo powerblend x oil all i can say is BEAST

Strengths:
very good saw just bought it yesterday already have cut a decent amount of wood starts no problem and has plenty of power i have heard about the starting problems and so far nothing my buddy has had this saw for 10 years and still no problem starting it i guess people need to learn how to use it but this saw does take a few pulls to get going

Weaknesses:
kinda heavy for extended use but not a deal breaker

Summary:
Great investment, not pro grade saws but excellent value for the price

Strengths:
So far, saw has lived up to the Stihl name. Bought a 310 and the 290 both about6 months ago, ran the hell out of both of them. I have had my stihl ts400 hot saw for 3 years and it gets used and abused daily on commercial construction job sites, I expected the same power and durability from the saws. So far so good, not to heavy for us and keep good mix gas around and they still start every day with 4 pulls, just like the dealer said they would. Got a 16" bar on the boss and 20" on the 310

Weaknesses:
N/A

Summary:
Junk

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Heavy, no power

Summary:
no problems with mine

Strengths:
kick but with any small loggs

Weaknesses:
none

Summary:
In the past all Stihl products were built good, not true anymore. I don't think they'll be fooling anyione much longer if they keep putting out saws like this.

Strengths:
Not much

Weaknesses:
Low on power for the weight

Summary:
happy I got it

Strengths:
Easy to use, lightweight for its size, great cutting power. Even big trees are no problem for this guy. I used it to cut and prune trees in Argentina and I'm happy as a pig in muck with it.

Weaknesses:
sometimes a bit hard to start.

Summary:
great investment,i use stihl hp ultra oil with mid grade gas in the saw and i always use stihl bar oil, my saw takes 4 pulls to start and i don't have a problem with that, because i know it's going to start and it's going to work like i need it to!

Strengths:
power to spare!!!!!!!!!!!! i run 18" chain. i bring down trees up to 30" in diameter , limb them and block them up with no problem! better run time on tank of gas then rancher. air filter design is awsome! chain adjustment is a breeze! filling with gas an oil is a breeze!

Weaknesses:
after 4 years of running the saw i still can't come up with a weakness

Summary:
Great saw at any price.

Strengths:
I have had my MS 290 for two days.Right out of the box, filled it with a fresh mix.In four pulls it fired up. I have felled and bucked a little over 3 cords of fire wood.This saw is a beast!I have several other brand mid-range saws and have been cutting timber most of my 60+ years.This saw so far, can hold its own.

Weaknesses:
None.

Summary:
Fuel left in the saw while stored for long periods gums up the carb. If you can't start your saw, watch the visdeos on the Stihl website. Most attempt to start cold incorrectly.

Strengths:
Easy to start, idles like a champ. Owned it for 10 years and it performs like a million bucks.

Weaknesses:
Didn't come with a bumber sticker or a free hat.

Summary:
56.5cc with the power of a decent 50cc saw and almost the wieght of a 70cc saw, it's hard to believe Stihl sells as many as the do.

Strengths:
Runs decent

Weaknesses:
Heavy, under powered for it's size

Summary:
my stihl saw ms290 totaly sucks ? have burnt up 3 new bars and chains will not oil good enuff ?? toke to shop the shop man said clean out oil hole. charged me $60.00 to tel me that the ms290 saw to me is no good i have4 other stihl saw the run perty good

Strengths:
not enuff power

Weaknesses:
will not oil enuff

Summary:
A good firewood cutting saw for the homeowner.

Strengths:
Plenty of power!

Weaknesses:
Very hard to start warm or cold!

Summary:
i'd buy five more if i had someone to run them

Strengths:
good power, tears through just about anything fuel and oil caps are a wonderful thing, oiler adjustment just a fine saw all the way around

Weaknesses:
i am 185 pounds and the saw is a beast everyone complains about weight what kind of you do you cut, limb wood? or fire wood.

Summary:
I work for a landscaping company, so I use tons of different saws. I got to use the MS290 for one day. That's about all I'll ever use one. I would never buy one. Out of all of the saws I've used this was by far the worst (see weaknesses). I'll stick with my old poulans, macs, and my new huskys. I wish poulan and mac still made quality products. I guess in the end I would be more satisfied with a "wild thing" than an MS290.

Strengths:
The saw runs and has a decent antivibe system. That's about all I can say for it.

Weaknesses:
This saw is over priced and underpowered. I can out cut it all day long with a wild thing (which is saying something). The saw I was using was hard to start and didn't have much power. It's also VERY heavy for what it is.

Summary:
wouldnt trade it for any other brand of saw

Strengths:
runs great kan be ran hard all day long havnt had any problems with it

Weaknesses:
needs a lil more power but it is a mid sized saw

Summary:
I've seen 45cc saws cut faster, I wonder where the 3.8hp, kind of like a craftman table saw 3hp untill the blade slows down, then down to 1.5 hp if even.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Heavy, low power,built cheap

Summary:
Not good. Can't afford to bring it back to the shop every time I want to use it. It's time to dust off my 5 year old reliable Husqvarna. Always starts on the first pull and just keeps on working. Never had a problem with it yet.

Strengths:
If you can get it running, it works well, but seems to have less cutting power than my comparably priced Husqvarna.

Weaknesses:
It worked OK for the first tank of gas, but then was difficult to operate the switch at times for the next two tanks full. Then the switch just jammed. Took it back to the dealer & found the switch mechanism had come apart. The switch design behind the cover reminded me of a cheap kids plastic toy mechanism, not at all what I expected in a "Rugged, Reliable" saw. Took it back home and two days later tried it again. Started right up and hummed nicely, but as soon as I touched the trigger it took off running full bore and could not be controlled. With smoke coming out of it, I was eventually able to regain control by taking the cover off and playing with linkage. After cutting six sections off a log, I tried to turn it off, but the switch was jammed. Again, after taking the cover off and playing around with the linkage it finally stopped. Brought it back to the dealer again for repair. I had the thing for only 3 weeks and it's been in the shop twice already.