Based on the dates of these posts, I am way too late with this, but my two cents worth anyway:

I did no research and, being embarrassingly truthful, my first acoustic guitar buy was something of an impulse purchase that had been building for decades and finally exploded. I trusted the salesman at a local music store and my trust was not misplaced. He sold me an Ibanez SGT110VS or its immediate predecessor. A great beginner guitar, and for less than $150.00 at the time (currently around $180.00 at Musician’s Friend):

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-SGT110VS-SAGE-SERIES-Acoustic-Guitar-?sku=512325

I used it for a little over a year to find out if I really wanted to do this and then upgraded to a Taylor. I do not regret the purchase and have moved the Ibanez on to another beginner who is also well pleased.