I think it depends on hard you are going to use it. If you will run on it a lot, get a True or Lifestride. For walking, get a Sears model. You definately get what you pay for with a treadmill. Treadmills will last much longer if all you do is walk on them.
We got ours at Sears and it promptly lasted three years. We learned our lesson. We ran on it a lot. Then we had the problem of having to get rid of it. What a pain that was!
Love,
Madonna