Personally, I recommend the Epson "R" models. I've had extremely good service from them. We currently have three in the house in active use, daughter and son use theirs for homework and photo printing. Mine gets used for anything that requires color and it my primary photo printer.
If I have any money left after the kids' Christmas, I'm likely to buy Epson's Stylus Photo 1400 unit to help my R320 along. I like the idea of being able to print up to 13x19" prints.
I've had so many friends have 'bad luck' with other brands (my mother too) and our epson experience has been so good, it's unlikely I'll ever buy another brand.