cubase is good, reasonably simple, and included free with all sorts of USB recording interfaces. Stand-alone units are great for super simple capture, but not so great if you want to get something demo-quality or better for a whole band unless you step up to 8 tracks like the yamaha 1600. The yamaha is great for getting a better quality and mixable live gig recording as well.
The zoom, edirol, and other stereo units will give you a record of what happened, or let you capture ideas just fine though. You can enjoy their output from a live gig if it was in a good spot and had good levels, but you're not as likely to get something you really want to save.
Also, I'd put the current edirol up against the zoom, though it wasn't out when Bill bought that zoom. Not sure if one is better than the other, or a better value, but I think it's a closer call today.
Depending upon my needs, my order would be as follows:
1. edirol or zoom for stereo quick-capture or live recording.
2. Lexicon Omega or equivalent with included cubase for solo into-the-pc work to mix multiple tracks at home (up to 4 tracks at once). Also real good at capturing ideas.
3. Yamaha 1600 for whole band into separate track rehearsals and live gig recording. Great quality, but you have to do a little work to get your tracks to the PC. You can make a pretty solid mix right on the box, though.
4. Presonus FireStudio (or tube version) if you need just a few more tracks, don't need super portability, and want to mix on PC.
Once you get past 16 simultaneous tracks, there aren't too many bad options and they're all really expensive.
Also, if all you're looking for is to capture your guitar/bass lines, the various versions of the line6 POD have USB capability to record direct to PC. You also have a mic input if you have the latest X3 live or pro versions.
