Spyderco's Sharpmaker is a breeze to use.
Basically, it's a set of four triangular synthetic stones that you use two at a time in a base. It's a well-thought-out take on the ceramic v-stick systems. It's got a leg up because of the way the Spyderco people designed it. You use the slightly rounded edge of the stones for initial sharpening, then switch to the flats for finishing.
The basic kit, which is plenty for most sharpening chores, goes about 45 or 50 bucks on the Web. It comes with a booklet and an instructional video on both DVD and VHS. If you watch the vid before starting, it's darn near foolproof. Super-knifeknuts sometimes add a pair of diamond rods for reprofiling or a pair super-fine synthetics for very polished edges, and I may add them both myself one of these days, but the four-stone basic kit is pretty darn slick on its own. It's got all of my knives hair-shaving sharp.
I've got no affiliation with Spyderco, and I'm an OK sharpener with flat or bench stones, but this thing is simple and quick and takes the guess work out of the game.
Edited by MGF (11/22/05 12:16 AM)