Buying a generator.. What to look for?

I am having a transfer switch wired into my house for those Michigan ice storms.  Now I have to buy a generator and I really have no idea what to look for.  I know I need about a 8000 watt unit.  I can get something like this for $1200

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100403949

But you can also spend over $2500 on a 8000 watt with a Honda.  I think that I wont use it very often, but I need it to work when I need it.  Anyone with any insight..

Well I dont know to much about generators... But my family got a honda generator (not sure what model) and I assembled it but the gas and oil in.... First pull and it was running... Honda's just reliable like that 

Honda makes some fine generators - I've used one for camping several times.
 
Couple of quick tips - Honda (and several other manufacturers) makes an "is" series - These have an inverter in them.  The engine varies its' speed depending on the load - if you will be at all concerned about how noisy it is, they are an excellent investment (I saw several at our campground and you wouldn't believe how quiet they are).
 
Otherwise, their standard ones work fine, and aren't terribly loud.
 
As far as capacity goes, - an 8000 watt would be sufficient to run water heaters, etc. - if you only need power for fridges, lights, and a gas furnace, it would be way more than sufficient - 5000 is probably what you'd really need.

Check this site out.

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/

I like the idea of a standby generator over a portable. This one is no tax, free freight, close to what you wanted to pay and looks like it would work better if your power goes down.

sry 4got link. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=356

You should buy nothing unless it has a Honda on it!  I am saying that as a person that rents and sells equipment to contractors.  If I have a customer that wants ANY small equipment, I always quote it with a Honda, and never a Robin or Briggs or whatever.  Spend the extra money!  Here is a link that will show you what uses watt (clever, eh?) wattage chart

What about other brands with honda motors like this one?
 
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100350033&N=10000003+10401025+481&marketID=401&locStoreNum=8125

Why not a briggs? you can run their engines without oil and they will still run.

what are we generating?