I have the H4n. From the specs, it looks like a very impressive recorder. I have only used a few times and the results have been pleasing. Not difficult to use for basic recording. I have not tried anything more complicated, like multi-track or XLR input, so I can't say. I was basically recording a seminar and I had no where to put the recorder except on the floor near the wall. I didn't adjust anything and just left everything on auto (auto gain, auto mic levels, whatever).
It is quite large though. Got an iPhone? Put 3 of them face to face. That's about how thick and wide it is. And about 1/4 longer.
Just to totally throw a monkey wrench in the works, maybe you can pick up a second hand iRiver iHP1xx or H1xx series. Probably the best portable MP3 player/recorder all-rounder. Loaded with Rockbox OS, and coupled with a quality mic, this will give all available recorders a run for their money. You get long running time, large storage space, the additional ability to record optical in. The Rockbox OS has a good recording interface with auto gain or manual gain, individual channel gain, clip protection, the ability to split files either by time or file size so that you are not limited by the 4GB file size imposed by the FAT file structure.
Limitations are that they don't make this anymore, so you have to find a good second hand piece. It is only 2-channel (stereo or mono only, no multi-track), no mixing, no XLR.
