I bought a Chef's Choice electric kettle back in 2005 and for the money it has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I would not hesitate to recommend one to anyone interested in an electric kettle upgrade.
I have this one: Rival 1.7L Cordless Electric Kettle. It was under $10 at Walmart & I love it. It heats up really fast and shuts itself off when it reaches the boiling point. My favorite part is that the pot comes off the base to pour so you aren't dragging a cord to the table.