I personally have used and own Chicago Cutlery and Kitchen Aid knives and have found that they are economical, easy to use, worthwhile, and durable.

But what we think on Yahoo! isn’t really the issue. Whatever, knife you end up purchasing, it should feel balanced and comfortable in your hand. It should also not be too large or worse, too small, lest you bump your knuckles on the countertop.. You should also get the knives that you need, avoiding prepackaged sets so that you can choose each individual knife as it suits your needs. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with an expensive knife that’s awkward or has few uses. My own recommendation would be to start with an 8-inch general purpose chef’s knife and go on from there. Choose one that you can afford with a comfortable handle and a carbon steel or carbon stainless steel blade. Carbon steel is something that you want to have in all of your knives. The average person should also get at least one, and preferably more paring knives. Where you go from there is entirely your business and is based on your own needs.
References :
My own experience.