mixer or bread machine

I would recommend that you get either a stand mixer or a food processor. Both of these appliances are multi-function devices that can be used for many purposes than making bread. The bread machine (ABM)is a single function device. If you don't like how it works or lose interest in making bread, then you have wasted your money. The ABM is great for people who are NOT interested in baking or have some physical disability. You can use it to make dough, and then shape and bake it in your oven. However I think that the main disadvantage with ABMs is that they have set cycles and bread making is an organic activity that changes a bit each time you make dough. You need some hands-on contact. If you read the baking related newsgroups, you will see many posts about people who have problems with ABMs. When you make dough by hand, in a stand mixer, or the food processor, you can make small adjustments to the amount of ingredients, the amount of mixing and kneading, and the time and temperature of the rise and bake. Using an AMB instead of using your hands or a mixer is like taking the city bus instead of driving. Sure, both the car and the bus may get you to your destination, but with the AMB and the bus, you have no control over the process. The car requires more interaction, but you get complete control over the process. You can start and stop at will. You can take detours. You can compensate for rainy weather. The possibilities are endless.

The advantages of making bread by hand is that you only need a bowl, a spoon, and your hands. It is easy and cheap. You have constant contact with the dough and can judge how much flour to use and how long to knead. It tends to be messy and requires reasonable upper body strength. If someone calls or the doorbell rings, the whole process stops.

The mixer is less messy and requires little skill. Part of the process can be done unattended. The mixer can be used for many other cooking chores and you can usually get attachments for grinding, slicing, shredding, juicing, opening cans, making ice cream, extruding pasta, rolling and cutting pasta, and stuffing sausages. The mixer costs more than the hand method and you have to have room to store it.

The food processor is the least messy and fastest way to make dough. Like the mixer, it can be used for many other tasks. It will cost less than the mixer and is easier to store.

Some people say they are able to make real sourdough bread(bread without the addition of commercial yeast) with a bread machine, but it is difficult because the timing of natural organisms is not the same as a bread machine cycle. Ask this question at alt.bread.recipes or rec.food.sourdough. Janet