A miter saw comprising: a base assembly including a support surface operable to support a work piece; a bevel arm pivotably coupled to the base assembly about a horizontal bevel axis; a saw unit pivotably coupled to the bevel arm about a horizontal chop axis, the saw unit including: a saw blade rotatable about a blade axis parallel with the chop axis, the saw blade operable to cut the work piece, a motor having an output shaft inclined at an oblique included angle relative to the blade axis, and a motor housing in which the motor is supported; at least one guide rail coupling the saw unit to the base assembly to permit the saw unit to slide relative to the base assembly in the direction of the bevel axis; and a battery selectively electrically connectable with the motor to provide power to the motor; wherein the bevel arm and saw unit are pivotable relative to the base assembly, from an orientation in which the saw blade is substantially vertical, in both a first direction about the bevel axis by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees and an opposite, second direction by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees; wherein the saw blade defines a blade plane transverse to the blade axis, and wherein the motor housing is positioned on a first side of the blade plane; and wherein the motor housing includes a top surface generally defining a plane that is substantially transverse to the blade plane; and characterized in that: the battery is supported by the motor housing, the saw unit further includes a battery receptacle on the top surface of the motor housing, and in that the top surface of the motor housing is oriented substantially parallel to the support surface of the base assembly when the saw blade is substantially vertical and in the fully engaged cutting orientation. a base assembly including a support surface operable to support a work piece; a bevel arm pivotably coupled to the base assembly about a horizontal bevel axis; a saw unit pivotably coupled to the bevel arm about a horizontal chop axis, the saw unit including: a saw blade rotatable about a blade axis parallel with the chop axis, the saw blade operable to cut the work piece, a motor having an output shaft inclined at an oblique included angle relative to the blade axis, and a motor housing in which the motor is supported; at least one guide rail coupling the saw unit to the base assembly to permit the saw unit to slide relative to the base assembly in the direction of the bevel axis; and a battery selectively electrically connectable with the motor to provide power to the motor; wherein the bevel arm and saw unit are pivotable relative to the base assembly, from an orientation in which the saw blade is substantially vertical, in both a first direction about the bevel axis by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees and an opposite, second direction by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees; wherein the saw blade defines a blade plane transverse to the blade axis, and wherein the motor housing is positioned on a first side of the blade plane; and wherein the motor housing includes a top surface generally defining a plane that is substantially transverse to the blade plane; and characterized in that: the battery is supported by the motor housing, the saw unit further includes a battery receptacle on the top surface of the motor housing, and in that the top surface of the motor housing is oriented substantially parallel to the support surface of the base assembly when the saw blade is substantially vertical and in the fully engaged cutting orientation. a saw blade rotatable about a blade axis parallel with the chop axis, the saw blade operable to cut the work piece, a motor having an output shaft inclined at an oblique included angle relative to the blade axis, and a motor housing in which the motor is supported; at least one guide rail coupling the saw unit to the base assembly to permit the saw unit to slide relative to the base assembly in the direction of the bevel axis; and a battery selectively electrically connectable with the motor to provide power to the motor; wherein the bevel arm and saw unit are pivotable relative to the base assembly, from an orientation in which the saw blade is substantially vertical, in both a first direction about the bevel axis by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees and an opposite, second direction by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees; wherein the saw blade defines a blade plane transverse to the blade axis, and wherein the motor housing is positioned on a first side of the blade plane; and wherein the motor housing includes a top surface generally defining a plane that is substantially transverse to the blade plane; and characterized in that: the battery is supported by the motor housing, the saw unit further includes a battery receptacle on the top surface of the motor housing, and in that the top surface of the motor housing is oriented substantially parallel to the support surface of the base assembly when the saw blade is substantially vertical and in the fully engaged cutting orientation. the battery is supported by the motor housing, the saw unit further includes a battery receptacle on the top surface of the motor housing, and in that the top surface of the motor housing is oriented substantially parallel to the support surface of the base assembly when the saw blade is substantially vertical and in the fully engaged cutting orientation.