Great Article on Kreg Basics

This is very timely as I was just about to write a post asking about Kreg Jigs.  I've never used them and know nothing about them, so this will help me get acquainted.  

I may end up sending another post if no one else reads this, but I'd like to hear the advantages the full sized one has over the $20 mini from those who have used both.  Also, if that's the only thing some people use to join boards.

I have used both, and the biggest difference is that w/the larger kit you get the clamping mechanism to hold the piece you are drilling the pocket hole into. Very nice, and if your budget allows, worth the upgrade, in my opinion. I bought the K4 master system, before they had the new K4MS, and it does everything I need. I mounted mine to a piece of plywood, and I can drill pocket holes as fast as I can move the boards into and out of the jig.  If you don't mind they extra time clamping the drilling guide in place, then the R3 system does just fine. You might consider looking for some welders clamps, instead of paying $40 for the Kreg clamps, though. Something like this:   is about $8 from amazon, instead of the $20 or so for the Kreg. You can get them even cheaper at Harbor Freight.

As far as being the only way to join boards, for me at least, not at all. Pocket holes are great, if you can hide the holes, or if the joint is conducive to what they do, but I still just straight drill w/screws, use nails, and other types of joinery, dados, mortise and tenon, etc when the piece I'm working on calls for it, or I feel like practicing a new skill. For the stuff that Ana gives us, I typically use a combination of pocket holes, regular screws and nails.