thanks to iop9000 for the link to steves-digicams.com for the M1 review.

I'm down to 2 camera choices:
Sanyo VPC HD1 versus the Toshiba GSC-R60. both about the same size and in the same price range

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/hd1.html
Sanyo is a HD recorder (1280x720 9mb/s) but it uses SD memory cards. fortunately there is a 4GB card available that will hold about 2 hours of HD video (mp4), up to 14 hrs in lesser modes. Its also a 6megapixel camera, so its truly a dual purpose device that does fit in your pocket.

no formal reviews for the toshiba yet.. still very new...
The Toshiba is a DVD recorder (also 1280x720 9mb/s) and uses an internal hard disk with 60gb storage for a max of 13.5 hrs in DVD mode (mpg2), 55 hrs in lesser modes. but its camera function sucks at a 2megapixel camera.

so the real question that i'm twisted with is capacity versus camera performance...

what do yo guys think?