I don't bother with the weenie Bosch ones which only take 1/4" bits.
Keep an eye out for the sales at Coop/Migros/Jumbo etc, cordless drills come on sale fairly regularly.
They last me something close to 8 years or so, even the cheap ones. Last time I lucked out and snagged a Makita with two batteries for something like 59CHF.
If there is any chance that you will be using it in anger, spend a bit more if one of the offers includes a 2nd battery.
It's got hardly any torque but i think this is both intentional and a good thing if you will use it primarily for that sort of assembly - IE it will tighten things just enough to not strip threads etc.. Once it stops you can hand turn it further if you want.
Battery lasted me enough to build a wardrobe and two sets of drawers.
That said, it's completely crap for anything more 'manly' than ikea assembly.
A couple of those might actually do the trick, it's essentially what we'll be using them for. We already have a cordless drill than can double as a screwdriver for more robust jobs, but it's too bulky for furniture assembly.
"Purse" or "European carry-all"? My OH keeps telling me there is a difference.
and I would go for the IKEA drill. it is good enough for most things around the house. And it has the reverse function, so you can keep ramming that screw into the harder woods until it is bedded.
Real women have steel tool boxes, one red and one British Racing green. They have 3 hammer drills, cordless screwdriver, chainsaw, their own shed and a 6'x6'x7'6 wood store that they built themselves from scratch....and which needs reweatherproofing in a few weeks time
Why? I like my plastic one. It's light, has enough space for the big tools, enough compartiments to separate the nails, screws and odd bits...
My dad had a steel one. I know I was actually a kid when I carried it around for him, but I found it too impractical. Also, plastic ones are easier to clean.
I don't have a chainsaw, though. There are some tools I like to keep my distance. Chainsaws and wood saws. I don't know. Maybe I saw too many horror movies. Give me a drill any time, but I'll keep a safe distance to any kind of saw...
That is one of the weird things, at the lower-mid end the price or brand seems to have little difference on the longevity. The first I got was a set from the Ikea, drill, jigsaw, and sander with NiCd, lasted about 7 years then the batteries started to go. I moved and started a house renovation, so bought a bunch of Bosch stuff, and gave the Ikea things away. The Bosch only lasted 2-3 years, then I changed to Einhell, which lasted 7.
Gave it two coats of bitumen when I built it 4yrs ago, so it's due another coat. I'd be fatal if I had a garage. There'd be bench mounted saws, etc, but my neighbour does that for me in his garage.