I think it's time to get my hands on one. I will just make myself an xmas present and get a little machine to get going. Currently undecided between getting a small Printrbot for about $400 or a larger Maker Farm for about $600:
http://www.productchart.com/3d_printers/7001_vs_5881
Any suggestions for a complete beginner are welcome.
after a modest amount of research and as a complete beginner, I've been very happy with the purchase. Prints PLA, ABS, HIPS (and probably nylon though I haven't cracked open the spool of nylon I bought yet).
Do yourself a favor and print one of these: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:23257
and buy one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-travel-machinists-dial-i...
That will help you level the bed as a beginner. (It gets a little easier with practice, but having numeric references helps.)
While at HF, buy http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-3-8-oz-storage-bottles-... as well. That will come in handy when getting ABS prints to stick (one will hold the acetone slurry, one will hold pure acetone and you have one left over)
Go for a printer with a heated print bed : It will save you many headaches.
Without heated bed : Check if the masking tape still is good enough for a print, if not, remove it and add a few new layers, prep the tape with some glue ( Only way I get something to stick ) and let it dry a little. Then you can attempt a print.
With a heated bed : clean up the glass plate, add some polyvinyl hairspray and you're good to go!