Go with a Fluid trainer, perferably one from CycleOps or Kurt Kinetic.

We had a Performance brand Travel Trac fluid for awhile. It was awful. The set up did not allow for consistent pressure on the tire.

Here is the thing, the trainer is generally not fun. Having a low quality trainer makes it even less enjoyable. So, if you are going to do it, do it right. And you can probably pick up a good one used on Craigslist. I've been using my CycleOps fluid 2 for about 8 years now. It was well worth the money.

As a final note, I spent a ridiculous amount of the time on the trainer - year round. I have done as much as five hours on the trainer at a time. I've done as much as 20 hours a week on the trainer during the winter when the weather is crappy. (I have a TV mounted in my garage to help me get through it.)

Even now, I spend my weeknights doing my intervals on the trainer because I can better manage my efforts. I was on there for two hours Tuesday night and two hours last night.