Used 840-EX or BR-8?

[Goodrat]

I can get a store demo VS-840-EX for $750. Does any one think that it is a better deal than a new shinny BR-8?
I record at home, alone, guitar, vocal, drum machine, but I want to burn to CD (I guess through my comp. sound card). The 840EX has a 250M zip drive. Does that mean there is also a hard drive? I don't know wich unit has the better effects. I need limiting, comp, and verb/chorus, to make my junk sound ok.

 

[H-Man]

Good rat, definitely get the 840ex. It does not have a hard drive in it. I have an 840, and an 880ex. You will learn alot about recording in the digital domain. The 880ex has a hard drive, 3gig or so. You'll learn alot using this mahcine that will only benefit you for the future. I'm also trying to unload my 840 cause I dont use it anymore. It is a great little unit. You need to get alot of outboard effects processors for your compression, pre-amps and so on. THese will help fatten and warm up your sound in the digital domain. I'm only telling you this because I have been there. The BR-8 is cool, but the 840 is the complete package.

 

[Goodrat]

Why would I need effects? Are the on-board effects not good enough? Also, The 840EX and the BR-8 are now the same price. I checked another source.
Something doesn't seem right. There must be some catch buying the older 840EX. Are the effects good? Is the sound better on one unit. Sample freq? Must be something.