I have an 025 and a 290. No comparison. For about the same money, the 290 is a far better and more powerful saw. 1 Hp is a lot of power in a chainsaw. Do not be fooled by power to weight ratio: there is 25% more power in a 290. The 250 is lighter and good for limbing and small tree felling. The 290 will do a heck of a lot more with a "real" 3/8 bar and chain, and it can really drive a 20 inch bar. The 250 will just not keep up with the 290 on bigger stuff. And the 290 has more metal in it. Compare the chain catchers... plastic in the 250 (part of the sprocket cover, easy to shread, $20) vs aluminum spur on the 290 (holds up, and $2 to replace when it finally goes). The 290 is really built better.
I use them both here and generally, I use the 361 (and 290 as a backup) for felling larger trees and for bucking and firewood splitting. I use the 025 and the 210 for limbing and cutting less than 6 inch trees with. But in the bigger stuff? Using the 250 is a lot more work to try to push it through bigger cuts. For the money, the 290 is a good saw. The 250 is a so-so saw that leaves me wanting.
I am actively looking for a different line of smaller saws for our tree thinning operation here. I have my eye on the new Dolmar PS-350 and PS-420 to replace the 210 and 025 saws. They seem to be the bullet-proof model that I am looking for in a light weight saw with the same or more power. They are an 8 pound class saw, really light, and they have more metal in the saw. The 361 of limbing saws? I can only hope and wait for February... and of course as the others are saying on this thread, THERE ARE NO DOLMAR DEALERS BETWEEN MEDFORD AND SALEM, OR! That is like, 100 miles from me, either way, north and south on I-5. Within that range there must be at least 30 Husky and Stihl dealers. Heck, there is a combo Husky/Stihl dealer only 5 miles of my house here, and we live in the :censored: boonies out here!