What's the big difference?

[poppygene]

Which manufacturers use hydraulic clutches? It there a growing trend towards one or the other? Just curious.

I think practically all manufacturers include hydraulic clutches on at least some of their bikes, especially their higher-end models. Bikes built to a price-point may not get them though, since cable systems are cheaper to manufacture.
Some older riders will remember when bikes normally came with cable-operated front brakes, too. These were drum/shoe systems which were inferior in every way to the hydraulic/disc setups we have today. The '69 CB750 Honda blew everyone away when it came with a single front disc! So maybe in the not-too-distant future all bikes will have hydraulic clutches too.

[Itzamna]

I know my SV1000 uses hydraulic clutch. I like it a lot. It's a lot smoother feeling to me. Sev is right about being a little bit harder to feel the friction zone, but after you ride a bike for awhile, you know the spot.