you might want a table saw.
If you want to cut plywood, etc-the circular saw-you said sloppy, so assume the circular saw is fine.

I have a Dewalt 368k corded circular saw. It is easily the best I've used--hundreds of cuts-

It, though, is made in China.

You seem to want a decent saw. I would tend to stay away from Harbor Freight unless you want junkers that break and are not worth fixing.

I would also stay away from the cordless circular saws-they seem underpowered and make poorer cuts.

I've heard good things about Makitas as well.

I have nowhere to store one. I can make enough room for a handheld.

I considered the cordless, but the increase in cost and the likely decrease in longevity and power did not seem worth it.

Right now my top two under consideration were the Makita 5007mg, or the harbor freight special.

The Makita seems likely to be better quality. But I can buy 5 from harbor freight for the same price as the 1 Makita at Home Depot. So I could buy one, use it for the project, and donate it to good will, buy another one in a year or three when I come up with a new project, and still be ahead on price. Unless one harbor freight cheapie is likely to be unable to handle even one small project.

I don't think you need a 15 amp. motar in yer saw, 12-13 amps is fine.

I have owned and used about all name brands on jobs. I keep a makita in my truck always because it is a good saw and is light weight. I can't really say how many hundreds of cuts I have made with that saw.That particular saw costs about $50.00 ,it is not the 15 amp motar so it is the lesser although contractor grade. Black& Decker or Skill same company is ok for what you want to do or will want to do.

I am advising against max. draw on amps. because you will be using that saw in yer home and you don't want to throw circuit breakers.Yers is a condo if I recall correctly or have you moved? Refer'en to your bed building project a ways back in time !

I think yer in the $50.00-$60.00 category.Look around.
I actually have about six skill saws maybe more- but I like that light weight Makita these days !
I like two others because ah, well-more power !

I think a good milwaukie runs about $150.00 these days. I've burned out two of those. Actually my old /Sears Craftsman contractor skill saw ,I sware cannot burn out! But it weighs a lot and of course has more power !It's very old too ! Yep,old as the hills !

About fifty bucks-there-there abouts.

Every tool I've tried to buy there has broken under normal wear in a ridiculously short period of time. For example, the pry bar that snapped in less than a day. Replaced, and the replacement snapped in less than a day.

Basically, you pay for a 'throw away' tool at Harbor Freight, and then you go buy the real tool from somewhere else. Might as well go somewhere else first.

As for your specific question, there's a reason the slang for circular saws is "Skillsaw". Skill makes a fantastic tool (The Craftsman worm-drive saw is a re-badged Skill).

As for what you need to know, there's two basic designs for circular saw. Direct drive and worm-drive. In a direct drive, the blade is, shockingly enough, directly connected to the motor. The blade is on one side, and you can see the motor directly hanging off the other side. With a worm drive saw, the motor is 90 degrees from the saw blade.

Worm drive saws are more powerful, much less likely to bind and narrower, making them easier to fit in small places. These features are the reasons why pros all use worm drive saws. The primary thing non-pros dislike about worm drive saws is they kick when you start them - right as the saw starts up, it will jerk counterclockwise. Once you're used to it it isn't a big deal, but it is surprising if you've never used one. As for which manufacturer, I frankly haven't heard anyone complain about any of the major tool brands. I stick with Skill, but that's mostly because that's what I've always used.

Direct drive saws are usually lighter and cheaper, which has made them popular among homeowners and others that don't have a ton of lumber to cut. They also don't have the jerk on start. The down side is they are much less powerful and more likely to bind.

At least "new" relative to this old fart.

Direct drive is still common. It's one of the reasons such saws usually feature a shallower cut, as you noted.

Actually a worm drive is a saw you really need to have experience using . You are moving up from hand tools to power tools- stay with the basic side winder skill saw for now.

Read the amperage draw on the saws specs., 11.5 ,12,13 or 15 amps. that determines the power of the motar. 12 or 13 amp. draw is fine for what you want to do or will want to do. Of course a 15 amp saw is best fer the power.

You can buy a $35.oo saw everyday in most stores that sell tools such as home depot or other such places- you come up to the fifty dollar range there abouts in name brands and you will do better.Pro grades run about $100.00 to $150.00 .

The key to a long life of a saw is sharp blades. Forcing the cut using dull blades will burn out the motar sooner rather than later.Good blades run about ten bucks.

Tis true about Harbor Freight tools-better to stear clear of those on that particular tool.

We shopped at this mall : http://www.premiumoutlets.com/grovecity

We bought four tools and the only one that failed is one I got plaster dust into the innards.

I have a Makita 5007FAK. I paid something like $80 for it, used. It works like a champ and never gave me any trouble at all.

When all you have is a saw, every problem looks like a board.

My tip would be to replace the stock blade with a decent carbide tipped blade, makes all the difference.

Longevity is another issue.
I swear by my Milwaukee 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw, but it ain't cheap, and was made in China, to boot (I think).

You can get hundred-dollar saws for $50 if you go used.

Don't spend more for a pro grade saw for something you may only use a couple of projects a year.
For less than 50 bucks I would get the Black and Decker. I have 4 saws from a 25 dollar B&D to a 200 dollar Milwaukee. I take the B&D on the jobs that if I should drop it or run over it or even just forget it, I wouldn't lose any sleep. It cuts just as nice as the high dollar one.

Only buy hand tools from Horrible Freight. They don't pack the magic smoke in their electric tools as good and it comes out way too fast.

Made in Germany by German engineers.

http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tools/track-saws/

That said, I would really focus on how you will use the tool. Harbor freight tools are great if your not going to use them much.

They will work well for a while but don't expect to use them professionally.

If your an occasional DIY person you could go through 16 harbor freights before you paid for your festool.

The other famous circular saw is the SKIL "Worm Drive" Circular Saw, around $200 this is a go to tool for many professionals.

If your a low use DIY person you might consider something like a "cordless trim saw". Its not going to be as powerful or cut as big wood as a regular one, but for DIY it will be used more than a corded one.

I could really use one for breaking down sheet goods for cabinets.

It is a an investment!