Looking to purchase my first programmer. Any one brand/type more compatible for dumping Nintendo eproms?

A basic Willem should suffice for simple dumping/programming/verifying as long as you have a parallel port on your PC. It's the cheapest, it supports pretty much everything (including some SMD EEPROMs) with adaptors (and desoldering), and I haven't had any problems with mine after more that a year of regular use.

$30~ inc. shipping depending on where you buy. I personally use a PCB50 model with a homemade adaptor for the non-JEDEC 27C301s found on certain prototypes. The main chips you should look for compatibility with are 27C series EPROMs (covers most EPROM-based NES, Genesis, SMS, Jaguar, Atari, SNES, and GB protos).

If you have a larger budget, I'd recommend one of the TOP USB programmers, although I don't have much experience with them.

If you don't have experience with this kind of thing and thus don't have an EPROM programmer already, I would highly recommend you let someone else more experienced dump and preserve whatever you have. I'm sure there are plenty of experienced and trustworthy people around here who would be happy to help.

That said, if you still want to do it yourself, I personally wouldn't trust any EPROM programmer that you could get for under $100. I might be in the minority with that. The TOP line of programmers interwho mentioned is a solid choice.

I have a GQ 4X USB Programmer, had it for almost two years and it's worked out fine. Was around $100, the main selling point for me was the USB, recently upgraded to Windows 8 and it works on there also.

Had TOP2007, worked good until Win7. Got GQ4X, still works good. All the software is horrid engrish tho. I would avoid anything with a parallel port.

The first part +1. I damaged a prototype when I was just starting out, would not recommend. I think one of the Nolan brothers dumps prototypes for free, just PM them to ask. Alternatively, get a Retrode. They support everything (with adaptors), dump the full ROM from the cartridges (not just chip images), don't require cart dissasembly or modification, and it's pretty much impossible to kill a cart while using one. A Retrode will run you about $200+ with all the important adaptors.

As long as the programming voltage line on the chip isn't connected to the programmer while dumping, you shouldn't have a problem with data getting corrupted, regardless of how cheap the programmer is. Willem programmers are built using pretty basic logic chips (socketed for easy replacement) and no custom chips. There isn't much to fail, besides the crap-o brand caps.

I have a Top2009 and its good.

Yup, what bunny said.  I've had both Top stuff (Top3100 I think, can't remember off hand) and the GQ4X, both are very good and both are USB.

Sent a few pms out. All the help is appreciated.

Get a Pocket Programmer. American made and worth the extra expense.

Needham programmers are quite fast compared to the Willems although they are Parallel only and the software is hard to find. There is indeed Windows XP software at least.

Really, don't go for the bare-board Willems. GQ-4X at a minimum.

I use a Willem GQ-3X w/ adapter and have had zero issues with it. Hundreds of burns and reburns. It's lasted so far a year and a half.