Just to throw in my 2 cents...

I'm very new to guitar, and I too had to go though the "what should I buy" scenario just recently. And, it's not easy not knowing.

But, you buy a guitar the same way you buy anything else. Especially if you don't know about it....you get on the Internet, and you LEARN about it. You learn what makes one guitar good, and what makes another one cheap. Is it the wood? The pickups? Then, I went to Guitar Center and other music stores, and just browsed. I spent a long time doing my "due diligence". I didn't want to get a cheap guitar, but not knowing if I was going to play, I didn't want to spend $5000 either. I went several times to the stores before I bought. Looking at a guitar I liked, then getting on the Internet and researching THAT guitar. I'd go in the guitar room, and if someone was there playing, I'd say, "Can you do me a favor? I don't play yet...can you play these two guitars for me so I can HEAR the difference?"

Ultimately, I got a Simon and Patrick Acoustic (Godin) and love it. The tone is incredible for a guitar in that price range. (I had the salesperson play it next to a comparable priced Fender and Yamaha and there was no comparison)