Let me apologize in advance if I seem to criticize someone else's recommendation, or if I seem to insistent on my own. This isn't meant to do either.
The Krups is a sandwich press only.
The Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler is a combination sandwich press (smooth and panini), and griddle. The Cuisinart is also rated at 1500W. That's actually not a lot of power -- more like the maximum for a 15 amp circuit, if you don't want to trip the breaker while having another appliance running. In other words, home kitchen -- not pro.
Because it's a griddle as well a grill, the Cuisinart offers temperature control. The Krups is one speed only. My experience is that the Cuisinart's hottest setting is not best for pannini making -- I'm not sure how that works with the Krups.
I normally am not big on user recommendations. Generally, they're no better than the reviewer's sophistication and knowledge. That is, they tend to reflect fairly narrow experience which restricts their value for comparison; and, all too often, they seem to be written for the purpose of validating the reviewer's reasoning by convincing someone else to follow it. Almost by definition, they tend to point to the reviewer's needs instead of the prospective user.
And, unless I know enough about the reviewer to impose a fair amount of trust, I distrust reviews which are overwhelmingly positive. Afterall, nothing's perfect.
That said, we've owned a Cuisanart GR-4 Griddler since about the time they first come out. It's given outstanding service as a sandwich press (smooth and paninni) and as a (small) griddle. It does have the same sort of hinge as the Krups (and any number of others) and will automatically adjust to sandwiches of any thickness.
It's speed is limited by its 1500W power, but it's fast enough.
As a sandwich press it's big enough to handle two large sandwiches at a time.
As a griddle, it's well enough made that the two sides can function as a single griddle -- with a temperature control. By the way, the three controls on the front do not mean separate controls for each side. One is on off, and the other are linked temperature controls with different markings.
Using both sides, the griddle size is big enough for a couple, but if you're making a family sized meal, you'll have to cook in batches.
Hope this helps,
BDL