ValhallaPrime
Newly Enlightened
The popular one around here seems to be the Honda 2000i or something like that. I don't remember the price but it's under $1k. There is an even cheaper and smaller 1000 watt version but people say that's underpowered for some common purposes.
It's only a few bucks below a $1000 though.....I was at Lowes this weekend however, and the people in front of me in checkout had one AND a home service switch-over unit. WOW, I never thought I'd see a kit like that at a very suburban Lowes, but hey...Also I don't think the switchover kit was more than $150 when it rang up. I remember being surprised their total order was only a tad over $1000 (not too shabby for a lower-wattage lights-and-fridge-only whole-house solution). My buddies downstate all have propane-fired gennies tied to their houses, which auto-fire up during their frequent outtages. They all have big 750-1500 lb tanks in their backyards though, as that's what they also use to heat their houses.
If I was down there, I'd still have a 20lb'er with a tree and a Coleman 2 mantler or pinnacle on it. A lot more peaceful than a 7KWh propane monster idling next to your kitchen window. Add a 2-burner camping stove to the tree, and you've got a week of cooking and evening light easily. I still have love as well for my white gas dual-fueler.