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 Launched in October 2007, the first product of Milwaukee's M12 line was the 2401-22 Driver. Although Bosch had already beaten Milwaukee to the market by over a year with a similar product, the Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver, Milwaukee improving the concept by adding a single-hand locking-bit system and a very convenient LED "fuel Gauge" to the side of the tool that quickly informs the user of the 12-volt lithium ion battery's charge level.
 Following up the 2401-22 was the first big surprise, the Milwaukee M-Spector video inspection tool. The M-Spector consists of a tiny waterproof camera attached to a meter-long metal gooseneck. The other end of the gooseneck is connected to a handheld control unit, which is equipped with a color LCD screen and powered by, you guessed it, Milwaukee's M12 lithium ion batteries.
The M-Spector is one of those products that you end up finding a multitude of uses for: looking behind walls, in pipes, behind things, under things, above things...I won't even go into the many pseudo-medical uses I could think of. A white LED near the camera allows the user to see even in dark areas. Digital zoom lets you clearly magnify your subject up to 2x. Really, you can think of all sorts of creative uses for this thing. It's really a fun and incredibly useful product and may be one of Milwaukee's most high-tech products to date.
Now for the new stuff! Recently announced and available for sale October 1st, 2008 are not one, not two, but FOUR new M12 products. With these new products, Milwaukee has produced M12 versions of an interesting new tool concept, a revision to a Milwaukee classic and two "standards".
 M12 Flash Light (model 49-24-0171) is a pretty standard flashlight. A nice feature is that it's got a strong magnet built into the handle, so you can stick it to your toolbox/car/fridge/etc. Oddly, Milwaukee chose to go with an old-school halogen incandescent light source instead of a far more modern and energy efficient LED (as Bosch just did in their recently announced FL11 12vMax Flashlight). Honestly, I have to say I was surprised by Milwaukee's choice on this one. An LED flashlight powered by a 12v lithium ion battery would have been a winning match. I'd be willing to place a bet that Milwaukee upgrades this to LED pretty quickly.
 M12 HACKZALL
(model 2420-20) Milwaukee's venerable flagship product, the "Sawzall" Reciprocating saw has just been shrunk. The new "Hackzall" ultra compact reciprocating saw may be one of the most promising new tools we've seen in a while. From cutting pipe, branches, drywall, lumber, pumpkins, or even your Thanksgiving turkey, the new Milwaukee Hackzall is one damn useful saw.
 M12 1/4" Hex Compact Impact Driver (model 2650-22) This product is basically an impact driver version of Milwaukee's first M12 product the 2401-22 Driver (mentioned earlier in this article). Impact drivers apply a hammering motion while rotating to more effectively drive screws faster, so this would definitely be the preferable choice of the two.Delivering up to 850 in/lbs of nut-twisting torque at up to 3,000 impacts per minute, the 2650 promised to make short work on any screw-type fastener driving job.
 M12 Copper Tubing Cutter (model 2471-22) The last product of Milwaukee's Fall 2008 M12 products is also one of the most peculiar. It's a copper tubing cutter. You know, like those kind you used to manually twist around a copper tube to cut it? Well, that was the old way and the new way is with MORE POWER. Now, you just place the jaws of the 2471 around a copper tube, activate the tool, and voila, cut copper tubing. Besides reducing the chances of developing copper-tubing cutter related carpel tunnel syndrome, the M12 Copper Tubing cutter makes short work out of a task that's both very familiar AND repetitive for millions of plumbers worldwide. While this tool probably won't radically revolutionize the plumbing industry, it will make those jobs somewhat easier and more efficient.
Like the 2401-22, the Copper Tubing Cutter, Hackzall, and Impact Driver all have the LED fuel gauge. The flashlight does not.
One of the best things about the Milwaukee M12 line is that virtually all the products (except the M-Spector) sell, or will sell for, less than $200 a piece! That includes a storage case,1 or 2 M12 lithium ion batteries and their accompanying charger. Combo Kits will also be available.
We've also heard that Milwaukee has plans to expand the M12 line big time over the next few year and may have dozens of different M12 products available by the end of the decade. Following the innovation of the first six M12 tools I just went over, I can barely fathom a guess as to what the engineers at Milwaukee Tools have up their sleeves...
Again, the 2401-22 Driver and M-Spector video inspection tools are available as of this writing. The Hackzall, Flashlight, Impact Driver and Copper Tubing Cutter will all be available from your favorite Milwaukee dealer (mine is ToolKing.com) on October 1st, 2008. Rumor has it that Milwaukee is going to launch these with a "buy two, get a bonus tool by mail" promotion, so I know what I'm asking Santa for this year!
By the way, if you're wondering about the warranty on the M12 products, Milwaukee has got you covered. Each product, and each battery, is warranted for 5 years (or 2000 charges for batteries, and yes, they can tell). That, my friends, is the strongest warranty coverage in the tool industry.
One more thing, Toologics is giving away a Milwaukee M12 M-Spector video inspection tool to a lucky winner. All you have to do is head over to the contest section to enter.
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Over the past few weeks, we've been seeing more and more news rolling out about Milwaukee Tools' newest additions to the recently-launched M12 12v Lithium Ion cordless tool platform. Ultra-compact professional tools are a growing trend in the tool industry: competing manufacturers Bosch, Makita & Hitachi all have a similar price-point products currently available. But where Milwaukee is really starting to shine is with their distinct and surprising innovation.
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