Hey there awakephd,
My guess is that there are at least a thousand blog lurkers who have been waiting for this thread. I've been asking myself the same question and have been deliberating for weeks. In the end, I figure if the decision is that hard to make, then the choice probably doesn't really matter, so I let a few superficial things guide me instead. Here's my list of reasons for choosing the Rigol DHO804:
- I don't like black front panels.
- The base model DHO804 comes with 150 MHz probes (with extended 1:1 bandwidth), compared to the 70 MHz probes that come with the SDS804.
- I like the idea of being able to run the scope on a battery and potentially float it at high voltage. (Yes, I know the safety implications....I used to design EHV substation earthing and 500 kV live line working procedures. I also ride motorbikes, windsurf in an area frequented by great whites, swim in an ocean pool that has blue-ringed octopuses, have funnel-web spiders enter my house regularly, and encounter eastern brown snakes from time to time, so having informed access to LV and MV in a controlled environment is low on my risk register.)
Ultimately, the price and availability of the DHO804 are better for me in AUS, so I've ordered it with the view that it is the simplest and cheapest way for me to meet my immediate needs and that in a couple of years, I'm likely to buy something a little more serious when I know just what features and specs I really need. Bode plots are of interest to me, but I'm used to doing them manually and it's an extra cost that I'll save and put toward my 'professional' purchase in a year or two if needed.
If you are still undecided, may I suggest a tried and tested method that works well for me in these situations....assign each option to heads or tails and then toss a coin. After you do, you can often find that you are either happy or not with the result, revealing your subconscious preference in the matter.
Good luck with your decision!!