Looking for opinions on this unit especially regarding its use as a CD
recorder

it's available for $199.97 at smartbargains.com, 199.99 another place, and
279 at a 3rd place. From there it goes into the 300's for a bit, and then
quite a few places in the 400's and the 500's. According to froogle, 3
vendors are charging prices in the 600's, as high as $651. I belive the $199
units could be refurbished although smartbargains makes no mention of that,
if so.