i have a starbucks Barista Athena -- which I got for a very good deal -- and I like it.
Pros: quick heat-up; consistently good espresso even from average quality coffee, suites me well
Cons: very difficult to steam enough milk for two drinks in any timely manner; water tank needs to be refilled constantly, it seems.
I got it for $200 when it was a $300 machine (about 5 years ago)... and I still use it regularly -- with no sign of wearing out.
Before I got the deal I did on the Barista Athena, I was ready to pull the trigger on a Saeco Aroma (in stainless steel) -- which I had read very good things about. I think it's ~$350. If my machine ever dies, this is what I'd probably get.
If you find yourself in a toss-up situation between two machines -- pick the one with the bigger water tank.
My normal routine is: turn machine on, press the shot button to prime the pumps (2oz gone), pack coffee, put into place, [by now the machine is ready], pull a shot (2oz gone), empty grounds, run two more shots of hot water to rinse stuff off (4oz more gone, maybe 6).
So, for a single person -- that's 8+oz of water used up for 1 serving. Doesn't take long at that rate to empty the tank....
You can skimp on features to keep cost down -- but don't skimp on quality. I wouldn't touch a Krups. I'd consider a mid/upper-end Gaggia if they made a machine I could stand looking at (aesthetics) -- but once you get into the decent models, you're up near the price of the Saeco Aroma SS -- which I love the look of.
ps- I actually started off with an old basic Krups when they first came out about 15 years ago (for $100). It served me well, with plenty of abuse for about 10 years until I accidentally left it on and the boiler tank cracked. I ran out to the store and bought the one that looked the same (for $50) -- brought it home, and it sucked. HUGE quality difference between the super basic model of 15 years ago and the (same looking) super basic model of today. The thing must have had 1/3rd the weight and couldn't pump water through lightly packed coffee. I returned it and swore off Krups from that day forward. So it may be that the krups upper end stuff is decent....
One last thing... expect to be on a constant caffeine buzz for your first week or two