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Hi Brian,
I looked into this a couple of years ago, when I thought I was going to need one. I ended up not buying anything. But as I recall I did get good info about different ones, mainly from cooking sites, chefscatalog.com and cooking.com but I seem to recall reading something about them in Cooks Illustrated as well. Not a lot of help but hopefully one of these sites will be of some use to you. As far as brand goes DeLonghi is a good one and I would start with them.

I got a Dualit oven last Dec. So far, it has performed really well, but since things cook/bake faster in it than in a large oven, and because I haven't yet figured out the time/temperature differential yet, I have to keep a pretty close eye on what I've got in it.

I've heard Krups makes a good one...
I keep thinking of getting one of these myself, but can't quite give up the non-existent counterspace.

We've had a DeLonghi for over ten years, and only latey has it started to make squeaking noises on "Toast."

It's big enough to roast a four-pound turkey breast.

I love my Cuisinart convection toaster oven. I roast vegetables in it all the time, although I don’t bake. Silpat also makes a toaster oven-sized mat which is very convenient. The Amazon link is attached to my name.

I just bought a sharp toasting convection microwave (R-820Bk). I haven't tried out the baking/roasting funtions yet, but it has a lot of great features for the money. It can even make toast albeit rather slowly. I think the best price on it is from Amazon.

as an aside, I just bought a book, IttyBitty Kitchen, that has a lot of ideas for toaster oven recipes. makes me want to get one to use instead of my stove on its last legs.

As you've discovered, there's a huge range of styles, sizes, options...and prices. My advice would be to buy something cheap, use it for a few months, and see what you miss. No one ever gets their requirements right on the first try.

Hi Brian. Two years ago I bought the Sharp Warm & Toasty oven. It may be the same as Amanda's, though I'm not sure as I'm not home now and thus not able to look at the model number. I've been extremely satisfied with it. It was quite affordable, plus it toasts and bakes quite nicely. Only thing, it's not HUGE, so probably no baking large items, but I've been able to do quite a bit with it myself.

Hope this helps!

Delonghi makes the best all-around countertop ovens - convection is amazing once you get used to it http://www.delonghi.com/Int/USA/prodotti.html There are several models to choose from.....

http://www0.shopping.com/xPO-Toastmaster_TLWTOB6

I have this Toastmaster Infrared oven. Very practical and nice design. There's no warmup time so you can put a chicken in there and press a button and it just cooks. Brilliant!

I second Edie's comment: I completely heart my Cuisinart convection oven/toaster/broiler. It was an investment to be sure, but it's wonderful. It can fit a good ol' pyrex pie pan, though larger baking pans don't fit in it. The oven in our apartment sucks, so this was purchased to maintain baking-related sanity. It does cook quite a bit faster than a normal oven, so I usually check on things just before the supposed halfway point. Melinda's on to something: real turkey breast is infinitely better than those wierrd turkey slices at the deli.

I second (third?) the DeLonghi comments. Many years ago I turned my sterile college dorm room into a kitchenette apartment with a DeLonghi countertop oven (gift from a very well-off friend!) and a hot plate. Six years later, I still find myself using the DeLonghi over my real oven -- and not just for toast either. The thing turns out toast nicely, but has also been great for all kinds of baking, and comes with all kinds of neato supplementary gadgets (mini baking sheets, mini pizza stones, etc.)

I spent several years learning how to cook with only a toaster oven - an ancient but serviceable Delonghi - and a very tempermental - and even more ancient - stovetop. I have a real oven now but I miss the Delonghi sometimes; it heated up quickly and was fine for making just about anything but cookies (not enough room, obv.). There are lots of great suggestions here, and I very much agree with Josh's advice that "no one ever gets their requirements right on the first try." I just want to add that you should definitely invest in some good oven mitts. The silicone ones, ideally. They're not as bulky as the old-fashioned padded ones, and that means a lot when you are reaching into a tiny countertop oven with yor hand just an inch or two from the upper heating element!

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I will make a selection in the next few weeks and report back. Seems like Delonghi is the pack leader, with Cuisinart coming in a second. I will check prices, reveiws, and let you know how the selected oven works out.

-Brian