I use one of the cheap fishing style sharpeners for the cheap knives I use, like cheaper and almost disposable paring knives and such, and on my J.A. Chef's knives I use a whetstone. I practiced for a really long time on cheaper pocket and kitchen knives before I got it right, but I've gotten pretty good. I can make a knife shave arm hair pretty easily now.
I wouldn't recommend using one of the self sharpening systems for really good knives. If you can't sharpen them on your own I'd pay someone to do it. And always use a steel to hone before use. I've found I can keep an edge for a really long time if I hone every time I use a knife. Take 30 seconds and keeps your knives in great shape. I hope to keep my good chef's knives for the rest of my life.