Ice cream makers (freezers)-opinions, suggestions, etc.

[browndriver]

The weather is changing, so what better time to think about purchasing an ice cream maker.
Growing up, we had a Rival White Mountain ice cream maker. My grandmother called it an ice cream freezer.

I checked the prices on the Rival we had, and they are a bit out of my price range. IMHO, the return on investment (ROI) for something to use once or twice a year isn't that great for us.

I've seen the newer style that one puts the bowl into the actual freezer to chill it. Beside not having to hand crank, How do they compare with the old fashioned, hand cranked White Mountain?

Any opinions,suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[Timmay!]

My wife and I have a Hamilton Beach one that I think we paid about $20 - $30 for, and it works just fine.

There's the tub that you put the ingredients into. That sits in a larger tub in which you put ice and salt. There is a motor that sits on top of the whole thing and mixes it for you. You put everything in, turn it on, and come back an hour (or however long) later and there you go - Ice Cream!

It's great. We haven't used it in a while, but now that our son is old enough to know what's going on (and he LOVES to "help" cook) I think it would be fun to get back out again.

-Tim