It really is a matter of how much you have played and how determined you are to keep on playing. The first thing to remember is that you can get a reliable guitar for less than $300. Don't walk in to a store and be toyed into spending an outrageous sum so that "it will last". One of my favorite guitars is a cheap $140 Squire Electric guitar. I highly recommend it for beginner guitars. It has low action, is very playable and the price is right. It is also even cheaper now, running at about $100 [see it here at Sam Ash]

That being said, the only way to really choose a guitar is to go in and play a few. If you know a few basic chords, you should be able to hear whatever it is you are looking for.