[FARC] 160-2m 1st rig recommendations?

[AGarst7259 at aol.com]

I am glad I have had the Kenwood TS-2000 as my first rig and I know  
nothing of the other rigs.  With the TS2000 I have been able to do so  many 
things.  It is a complicated radio that takes a lot of time in the  manual but the 
rewards have been worth it.  There have been some part  failure problems 
and hopefully that is fixed.  There are 2 Yahoo  groups.  Allen  KB3OMO
 
 
In a message dated 12/12/2011 9:54:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
brian.mcentire at gmail.com writes:

I want  to thank N3HTA for forwarding the e-mail below to the FARC list
a while  back. I signed up and took Robert Long's (KD3JK) General
License class this  weekend. It was very helpful and I met some great
hams. I passed the  General test  :)  and recommend the class highly to
anyone  thinking of upgrading if Bob offers the class again next year.

Now I  have a good "problem", I need a rig. I am doing a lot of
Googling, but I'd  appreciate any opinions. I know there are often
conflicting views so I  won't ask "what's best." But, suggestions for
good brands too look at or if  anyone knows of one that might fit my
goals please let me know.

I'd  like to buy new. I'd like to spend under $1000. I might stretch
that to get  into a Flex-3000 SDR or something with similar
capabilities and performance  in that price range.

Looking for something for my home. I'm really  interested in the
digital modes and plan to hook the radio up to my laptop  (a new Dell
with plenty of horsepower.)

100 W would be nice but I'd  probably trade power for more bands if
that trade-off exists in my  budget.

The radios that look close to fitting the bill are the Yaesu  FT-950,
Flex-3000 SDR, and Kenwood TS-2000. They are all above $1000  though
and only the Kenwood does 2m.

Suggestions for other radios to  look at? Does anyone know of an SDR
that does HF and  2m?

Thanks!!
Brian /  KB3TCC