Phaedrus,you might want to diversify and get some of both,best of both worlds.

Agree 100% with entire post,I hate noisy genny's,and these have the added benefit of being VERY fuel efficient.

The Honda might be a little easier to do maintenance on,some youtubes on that if you search.

The Honda EU2000i that my CERT owns is an fuel-sipping, quiet-running anvil of reliability. I would have bought one for myself, except that I need about twice the output and my budget was about 30% of its cost.

One thing I like about the Honda EU1000i/2000i and Yahama EF2000iS generators is they have Parallel Cable technology that enables you to connect 2 generators together that effectively doubles the power output. This of course this means that you have to purchase or borrow another generator in order for this work. However I can see in applications where only having to run one generator is needed but the ability to bring another one online quickly and double the wattage output could appeal to some people.

Another feather in the cap for the inverter generators.Thanks for pointing that out to the new genny purchasers looking to buy. You really do get what you pay for with the Japanese inverter gennies,quality throughout.Super clean power waves,cleaner than a lot of utilities power,thats something for sure.

That said,if you only have a hundred bucks for a harbor freight that gets you through a couple events it sure beats nothing by a long shot.

I don't know how you can build this for the price...and it's a four cycle

http://www.tractorsupply.com/sportsman-trade-2000-watt-portable-gasoline-generator-4458506

You can sell anything cheaply if you make it cheaply. This thing loudly proclaims 2000 SURGE WATTS! and then in small print notes that its capacity is 1500 running watts. Coupled with the fact that it is being sold for 50% off list price, I suspect it doesn't really live up to expectations, and TSC is trying to get rid of them. Reading some reviews it appears the build quality is poor, some of the components are prone to being defective, and the voltage output is not regulated which can cause damage to electronics.

If you have equipment critical enough that you need to keep it running when the power is out, it's important enough to buy a reliable generator for it.

Thats pretty much industry standard (for low powered anyhow) in my experience.You will find Honda is same.

LOL,loudly proclaimed Im sure,bet its a noisy puppy.

Heck,its a Yugo after all,dont think (hope?) anybody thinks differently for a hundred bucks,bet that electric wave tracing is horrible!

Do lights care,incandescents not much,cfl maybe.Your computer maybe or older sears 12volt automotive battery charger maybe?

Your digital anything....not happening.Your rechargeable power pack things,like a drill,phone or expensive electronics or whatever.....,I wouldnt.

Sure its limited to the max,its 100 bucks.

can I use a generator if I live in a condo? I can put the generator on the balcony.

If you're on the ground floor, better buy a good chain for that gennie! A big, scary, half-starved guard dog wouldn't hurt either.