Guitar advice for James

I decided to create a new post because I have too much to say to fit it in comments. I may not be good at playing a guitar yet but I have learned a lot about the buying process and I would qualify myself as an expert at being a beginner.

Brand
I would urge you not to buy a Fender. Fender has factories all over the world so there can be vast differences in quality within the same model. If you do get a Fender, make sure it was made (not just assembled) in the US or Japan.
I am partial to Schecter and Ibanez but maybe that is just me. Both make a very good quality guitar for a reasonable price.

Tone
Don't underestimate the importance of tone. Every guitar had a unique sound depending on shape, material, and type of pick-up. Demo as many guitars as you can and find something that sounds good to you.

Feel/Comfort
This is critical because a guitar that feels good to you will encourage you to play more. An uncomfortable/heavy guitar will lead to more fatigue and discourage you from practicing as much as you should. Pick something that feels natural.

Tremolo?
A Floyd Rose style tremolo has it's advantages but comes at a cost. They add more to the cost of the guitar, are very difficult to tune, and require more maintenance. If you have any intention of experimenting with alternate tunings, save yourself some heartache and get a fixed bridge or hard tail guitar. I started with with a Floyd Rose and ended up buying another guitar just so I didn't have to mess with it when I play something in drop-d (pretty common). Floyd is best left for your next guitar.

Righty or lefty?
If you are right handed, play a right handed guitar. Most people have better dexterity in their right hand but you don't see them playing lefty do you? Your coordination will improve as you play no matter which side you play on. Playing lefty limits your options. Also, keep in mind that Jimmy Hendrix was a lefty but played a right handed guitar because he liked having the knobs/switched on top

Where to buy
I'm not a big fan of Guitar Center but you may not have many options where you are. Sam Ash is a little better. Online can be cheaper but I recommend buying from a store where they can do the initial set-up. You also want to have someplace you can go to have adjustments made to the action or repairs done.

And finally...
Take some lessons. Don't try to figure it out for yourself. If personal lessons aren't your thing, Jamorama is a good way to learn in your spare time on your computer.