Hello all.
This is my first post here and wanted to thank fonions aka Jubol for his help.
I just bought the Husqvarna 10530sbe from Lowes in RI for about $995.00. While I called around to various independent shops, no one had any stock - so off to Lowes I went.
As I am looking at the various brands and models, up comes two guys who remove snow for a living. We strike up a conversation and he says this model is the "best" and he highly recommends it. Not having a ton of time to dedicate to a decision matrix on a device I will use 12 times a year - I get one. He even offered to bring it to my house, right now, for $50 - cheaper than Lowes delivery. Sounds good to me. I buy the blower, some 5w30, we load the blower up and at home we arrive.
After trying to start it several times, electrically, I get it started. However, black smoke burps out and it sounds "rough" to me. I do a small strip and it dies. Same thing for about 4 more runs and then it won't start again. 
Frustrated I am, but trying to keep calm in front of my 3 year old who think I have just bought him the MAC daddy of all toys! 
I call lowes, ask for a manager, politely and explain my situation, dissappointment and elude to the HD across the street. He tells me they are out of them (I did get the last one - literally) but he will have one to me within 48 hours. I figure there is no snow in the forecast, so I accept his offer.
Two days later, I come home after work and the old one has been removed and a new one stands in my garage in its place. I add the oil, gas and press the red button - WHAMMO. Raw power. It sounds much "smoother" with no black smoke. Just cause I am a guy, I make a run up the driveway and down the sidewalk. Mind you, by this time, the snow has undergone several thaw, freeze cycles - so it i nice,. hard, crusty and icey. The blower eats right through it like warm buttah! It spits it out from blocks into snow and I am truely impressed. 
I am so excited that I did my front sidewalk, and two of my neighbors. They must have thought I was crazy as it hadn't snowed in 4 days by now and here I come BBBRRRRR with a snowblower in the dark.
One of the major criteria for my purchase was that my petitie wife (
) be able to use this if needed. The model comes with powered traction and one can steer it with the slightest squeeze of either the left or right lower triggers. That works like a charm. You can fully addjust the forward and reverse speeds with the flip of a lever. You can easily control not only the pitch of the snow leaving the chute, but the direction of the chute - all from the controls with very little effort. The model has a nice light which is more that adequate for the job. It can be started with a pull or electric push-button. Both worked flawlessly on the first time.
Overall, I have to say, I made a good choice. Thank you all for all of your comments. I read many, many, many, too many threads on all different makes and models and arrived at this one with your help. Thank you.
Oh yeah, and VERY importantly, it is my fav color - Orange. :)
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
- ATG
