Your first power supply for simple bench use should be your
own construction. Quite simple. A 12 VAC transformer, line
fuse (or circuit breaker), IEC power cord connector, diode
bridge, some electrolytic (and maybe some tantalum)
capacitors, a 7805 voltage regulator chip and a 723 variable
voltage regulator. Fixed +5V and variable outputs are through
banana plugs mounted in a plastic box. Schematics for both
the 7805 and 723 voltage regulator chips are part of the
manufacturers data sheets.

There is no way to appreciate what is and is not a good
power supply until you have built one yourself. Furthermore,
I am still using my supply built 30+ years ago. That basic
power supply works great AND I know in advance everything it
will and will not do.

Later, as you learn what you want from a supply, then
consider one with more power and other features. Features you
will only appreciate once you have built your first one.
Basic power supply is so simple. Even the IC manufacturers
provide the schematics in the datasheets. This is how you
learn. This is how you better appreicate concepts like
current foldback limiting and ripple voltage.

wrote:
Last Spring I took Intro to Electronics and this Fall I'm taking
Electronics. I want to start purchasing lab equipment, as most of our
labs this semester are in MultiSim and I want to continue to have the
hands on, and I want to purchase a power supply. However, I don't know
what to purchase; I don't know enough yet to make an informed decision.
I browsed through Ebay and saw listings such as:

Regulated DC Power Supply
Power Supply, 1 Phase 16A
System DC Power Supply Single Output
TRIPLE DC LINEAR POWER SUPPLY 30V 5A w/ Memory
dual dc power supply
Programmable Power Supply PPS-3635 GPIB
Triple Output Power Supply

I want to purchase a power supply that will be a real keeper so that I
don't have to make further purchases down the road. What are the
differences between some of these power supplies? Also, why would I
want a programable power supply? Finally, I if pick up a power supply
that hasn't been calabrated, how much would it cost to have this done?