Its more important to focus on getting good coffee than a machine or press. All methods of making coffee do the same basic thing; add hot water + coffee + time and pressure and you have a cup of deliciousness.
In the price range you're looking, it's like comparing all the worlds small NA 4-cylinder motors. You're going to have some variance on HP, features, etc, but at the end of the day they all make your car go and smelly exhaust. Just get the one that works for your budget and has the features you think you'll actually use (programmable, timer, etc). They're all good.
EDIT: and for the press folks, I've done the french press for 4 years, I've done the Mr. Coffee basic coffee maker, and I've worked in a (non-Charbucks) coffee shop for 3 years. If you think you can tell me in a blind test which is a french press vs basic coffee maker vs store-made, you're either lying or ought to be a professional taste tester. If home coffee makers are the NA 4-cylinders, a French press is a donkey pulling a cart and the store machine is a twin turbo V8.