I have a Cyclops Fluid 2 and a Kurt Kinetics Rock and Roll trainer. Both fluid. Both very nice units. I had the CF2 first and when my wife wanted her own trainer I let her take it and bought myself the KK. I haven't really used the CF2 in a couple of seasons, but I'll try to do a fair comparison. The spin-up and spin-down of the KK feels a little more like what you might actually experience on the road. The CF2 seems to have just a slightly higher resisitance and runs hotter. The CF2 has a more secure and convienient mount. I think the CF2 was just a tad quieter, but it's been so long I don't remember for sure. The R&R from KK is MUCH more comfortable for longer sessions and, although it doesn't feel the least bit natural to me, it will allow you to get out of the saddle and crank on it a little bit.
I can't imagine wintertime without a trainer. I will put anywhere from 800-1500 miles on the trainer between mid-October and April. Here are my suggestions for a sustainable and enjoyable trainer experience:
1) Get a bike you can dedicate to the trainer. Even if it's a retail big-box cheepo or thrift store gem, as long as it fits your body and is in decent mechanical condition. It's nice to not have to be mounting and un-mounting your primary steed if you are going back and forth between the road and the trainer. If I had to take my bike on and off the trainer and carry it up and down from the basement all the time, I would NEVER use the trainer. If it's always mounted and ready, there is NO EXCUSE not to get in a spin every day. Rain or shine, hot, cold, whatever, the trainer will be ready for you.
1a) if item 1 isn't feasable, at least look into a dedicated trainer wheel and tyre combo, or commit to having your primary bike on the trainer for certain months of year.
2) Get a trainer specific tyre. It will run quieter, cooler, smoother, and longer than a road tyre that is past it's prime. I used to recycle my old road tyres on the trainer. I recently picked up a trainer specific tyre and I will never go back. After a few heat cycles the trainer tyre has a little more tack to it which means the roller drum needs less compression on the tyre. Since resistence doesn't change with compression, the ride will be smoother and the tyre will last longer. This also plays a part in comfort. The more comfortable you are in the saddle, the more effective your workout will be.
3) Use a fan. It will keep you cool and allow you to regulate your output better which equals longer, more effective workouts. I like an oscillating fan directly in front of me. I can close my eyes and pretend I'm on the road with a slight headwind.
4) Invest in a heart rate monitor or power meter. PM's are too expensive for me to justify as a recreational rider, but my HRM allows me to meaure my output in some quantifiable way. Just because today's workout feels tougher than yesterday's doesn't mean anything. Some days it's tough to get the heart rate up for no apparent reason.
5) Invest in a computer with cadence and rear wheel speed sensor. If you have no way of measuring your output, why bother with a trainer in the first place.
6) Record your workout stats. It's the only way to know if your performance is improving.
I'm not a big fan of music, TV, or cycling videos while I work out. They make me lose focus and my technique and output will suffer for it. Other's will say trainer sessions are too boring to be bearable without. I get a better workout by paying attention to my body. Personal preference I guess.
Currently, I'm in the routine of doing 15 minute sets on the trainer with 25 situps between sets. This helps strengthen my core, improve flexibility and breathing technique, and breaks up my time in the saddle. I find that saddle time on the trainer is much harder on the derriere than actual road time. The fixed position of the bike doens't give you much oportunity for natural position changes during the ride and it can be fatiguing.