Avoid:-

* Fender acoustics - they're almost all crap
* Round-backs - can be more comfortable, but mostly don't sound as good
* Anything with a brightly-dyed soundboard - they're usually cheap crap gussied up as eye-candy
* Anything in a "beginner pack" (although you should expect the shop to cut you a deal on a gig-bag, strap, spare strings and a few picks).

If you can get a solid-top, then do. Otherwise just see what sounds good. Crafter, the various Art & Luthier/Simon & Patrick/Norman badges, Takamine, Yamaha and Washburn are all creditable brands. Also make sure you're checking second-hand prices - no need to pay top dollar for a new instrument when you're starting.

My first "proper" guitar was a second-hand ply-top Crafter. The shop-owner was honest enough to give me a decent model which sounded good - I now know how lucky I was, since quality can be so variable at that end of the market. It's not in the same league as my Lowden, but it's a nice instrument and I still use it.

Graham.