The analog limiting and gain controls are a positive - the H2's Hi-Med-Lo analog settings work fine but there are places (ie: a loud band) where even the low setting isn't enough ... and having true analog limiting and auto gain would seem a plus .... the Tascam also has a 1/4" mic jack

The H2 also though does 4channel recording with 4 mic's vs Tascam's 2 - and that 4 ch recording can be mixed into 5.1 surround

The Zoom H2 is $199 - it has 4 mics and the ability to record 4channel sound which can be mixed into 5.1 surround.

As noted it can record MP3 direct to the card - and at up to 320kbps along with up to 96khz-24bit WAV format

The features and specs of the H2 are better than this Tascam - and its a hundred bucks less

As far as noise when you handle it - well duh! Any device will do that.

The H2 does everything this

A day late and about $200 too much .... pretty hard to compete with the Sampson Zoom H2 for $199 - which has 4 mics

It does have 2gb onboard memory (although a 2gb card for the Zoom is $25 or so

The one positive is remote control - which is a beneficial feature that Zoom does not have

The new(ish) Zoom H2 pretty well blows away all of these high priced competitors - lower price, does up to 4ch recording - has 4 internal mics

add batteries, turn it on, and make fantastic recordings - take it home and plug into your cptr and burn away