Standard rechargeable PVs are fine, any battery-powered object can fail but it's really rare. Basically, if you have a normal stick-type PV, and it is staying on constantly or similarly obviously-weird action, don't use it until you can ask a question.
In a cig form factor, the vapornine nebula starter kit at $8 is a good buy. It is an automatic KR808D-1, the kit has one battery, 1 USB charger, and two 16 mg/ml cartomizers (either tobacco or menthol). The only thing lacking is a USB power supply -- use a phone or other USB charger, or plug it into a PC USB port for charging, just remove it when it is done, no biggie. For $8, the price of a single non-rechargeable, non-reuseable NJoy gas station PV, it's s good deal. Buy several of them, you'll have enough PVs and USB chargers. You can refill the cartomizers with regular eliquid, or buy other standard KR808D-1 cartomizers, either prefilled or empty; 808 cartomizers are widely available. Battery life isn't that great between recharges, that's the case for all the standard 808s. Vapornine's prefilled cartomizer prices also aren't too bad.
If you smoke full strength cigs (e.g., Marl reds), you would likely want the High strength -- the ones in the kit may be a little light for you, though plenty good enough to try out.
If you are a heavier smoker, say pack a day, and can deal with a non-cigarette size/shape, the liberty flights Riva Lite 510 kit, at $30 after the october20 promotion code, is a good buy. Battery run time between charges on a Riva is several times that of a standard 808 battery. You would need to buy some eliquid separately, and I highly recommend trying the Boge 510 2 ohm cartomizers -- liberty flights carries both, and the 20% discount code will apply to all of the items.
Both vapornine and liberty flights have reasonable S&H.