Posted by Lonnie,
Some compound miter saws have an additional slide feature where, after sinking the saw into the timber the blade can be pushed or pulled through the wood. This allows the carpenter to cut much larger pieces of wood than would be otherwise possible when using a standard type of miter saw. This additional movement gives this type of saw a radial arm feel. While this is a very handy feature to have, it can add considerably to the price of the saw and not an advisable purchase for the average DIY user unless you are sure the saw will get plenty of use.