Bicycle Mechanics - Shimano Vs Sram 7 speed hubs

I am planning a comuter bike around a 7 speed rear hub. Does anyone out there have experience with both the Shimano and Sram hubs? Is one better than the other? Lighter? Least complicated linkage? Thanks.

Are we talking a 7 speed internally geared hub (I'm assuming so)or a hub capable of supporting a 7 speed cassette?

I'll be going with the internally geared hub

Sram has a wider range, with wider jumps between the gears. By reputation, the Sram is more reliable, but Im not sure there is any data to back that up. I know serious riders who use the Shimano system.

Thank you MicaelW. I was on the Sram web site today and am starting to lean that way. One thing I am finding attractive is that Sram offers a freewheel version, as well as both roller and coaster type brakes. I've seen some bikes with the Shimano hub and I'm beginning to believe that it might be best to eschew the hub stoppers altogether, in favor of a simpler setup with cantilever or V brakes - especially when it comes time to fix the inevitable flat on my way to work. I’m even considering the 5 speed over the seven. According to the legendary Sheldon Brown’s web page, it matches the gear spread of the Shimano 7 and is lighter than either the Shimano or the Sram 7. That’s if you can call 2.7 lbs light.

How wide a gear range do you require? My (limited) experience with epicyclic hubs is that a 25 percent gear ratio step is far too wide for my tastes. The only one I really liked was my 12-speed hybrid drive train, a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed with a 14-16-18-20 Cyclo cogset conversion kit. A half-step pair of chainrings, say, 42-40, would have made it a perfect 24-speed.

Also, note that the mechanical efficiency, repairability, and long-term reliability of even the best epicyclics cannot match those of a good derailleur-based system.

Sheldon Brown has some info on internal gear hubs here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/internal-gears.html