I was thinking about trying one of these over the winter:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rce=google_ext
Do you think it is too much for a beginner? I don't really care for the look of coaxial helis, so I'd rather something like this, but if it's going to be impossible to learn on I could settle on a coax. I like that the tail rotor is driven by a shaft, not a tiny electric motor (which from what I have read tend to not work as well).
If I don't get the heli I'll probably get one of the micro planes like J3 cub or mustang from parkzone, but I like the idea of a heli more.