The problem I had when looking for a first guitar was how do you play something, other than holding it and plucking a few strings when you have just started and have no idea what you are looking for?
I went to several music shops and messed around but everything was completely over my head and I had no idea what I was doing. People in the shops attempting to recommend things doesn't really help either as everything they say is yet to have any real context.
Once you start using one a lot you can find out what you do and don't like about it, but the first one you go for is always going to be a bit hit and miss I think.