DAW means "Digital Audio Workstation." It pretty much means any program that you use to record on your computer. This being Pro-Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc.

I use Logic Pro and find it to work great for me. However, I firmly believe that it is how you work with what you have. I have seen people with very limited resources make great recordings. I would say whatever you use, learn it to your best extent and don't get caught up in having a million plug ins and instruments and so forth. Get something, and really work with it. Logic is inexpensive and VERY user friendly. Pro-Tools is the industry standard. Whatever you get, make great music with it!