I will preface my response with the caveat that I am a new vaper, as of 4/9/2014 (officially anyway, tried a few crappy cigalikes beforehand just to get a sample of what it could be like). Anyway, I am coming at this from the perspective of someone who was just in your same situation not too long ago. I researched for about a month and a half and realized one thing - it is freaking daunting trying to sort through not all the different products and options but sorting through very subjective advice. It is just the name of the game, just as cigarette smoking is very subjective it only follows appropriately that vaping would be the same way.
To get one thing out of the way first, you can research and research and research infinitely for the best starter kit and you will get some good advice that has one glaring defect...no matter how long someone has been vaping, no matter what anyone's opinions are, this decision will have to be one of not over-analyzing and just jumping in. You will have to realize that the first thing you get will most likely NOT be the last and that there is a lot of trial and error. Now, that being said, you surely do not want to get something that you hate that either turns you off vaping period or requires you to invest more money shortly after the initial investment. For me, I was overhtinking it (I over-analyze a lot in general so that made this process even more difficult). The only e-cigs that I ever really saw were from a couple of guys at my work who used monstrous mods. I can see the merit in these and being that I am an IT Director, the techie part of me definitely sees myself getting to that point; however, as an initial investment, I chose to go with the Kanger EVOD bottom coil dual starter pack and I am VERY well pleased. I know that I can get a significantly greater amount of flavor and throat hit and vapor from mods and even cartos but this is good enough for me now. It is simple, quick startup, and very little learning curve, which I think is vital for success.
If you are trying to quit smoking, then I would also suggest you start out with a higher nicotine strength liquid like 24-36mg nic. I would advise you 24 so you aren't as susceptible to having a nicotine overdose. But with the higher nicotine content liquids, you will have a stronger throat hit and you will curb your cravings easier.
Not to disagree with someone obviously more experienced than me, but I was hung up at the very end on trying to figure out what e-liquid to get and the suggestions pretty much ranged all over the board and there was no real consensus. However, I think that what is missing from the suggestion PhatRon gave is the question of what you currently smoke. For me, I had been smoking Marlboro 72 Silver (ultra-lights) for 3 years or so. That being said, for me starting out at 24-36 would have, IMO, been crazy. I ultimately want to quit smoking and do not want to raise my nicotine level to go back down again later. While it is true that nic strenght has a lot to do with Throat Hit, so too does flavor, what type of setup you are using (carto, bottom or top coil, atomizer, etc.), battery, and PG vs. VG.
Again, I had to make a reasonable guess and just jump in, so I bought an 18mg 15ml 80/20 (PG/VG) of East Coast Tobacco, thinking that I would definitely want a tobacco flavor. (as it turns out, this really tastes nothing like tobacco to me but rather tastes like peanut butter cookies and I freaking LOVE it). I also was curious about the sweeter flavors and bought a Zebra Stripe gum flavor 12mg (50/50). See what I did? I got a few with different "setups" to see which one is better. In all honesty, I like both for different reasons.
I knew that my biggest hurdles were going to be first thing in the AM and then after meals bc that is when my cravings are usually strongest. So I thought, maybe I could use the 18mg for those times and then use the 12 mg juice for the rest of the day and man, I gotta say this has worked beautifully. I actually bought a pack of cigarettes Wednesday evening (the night I started Vaping) bc I only had one left in my old pack because I figured I wanted to have an "in-case" go to if I ever needed it (and was pretty sure that I would). That pack and the one remaining in the old pack are still in the door of my car. I see them when I get out and I laugh to myself how that was a waste bc I have not in any way shape or form wanted to smoke one anymore.
Wow, that turned out to be longer than I intended, but the bottom line is that you set your expectations appropriately - that you will be lucky to get your long term setup on the first go round. There will be trial and error, expect it. The best thing is to get as close to something you feel will be "acceptable" initially then go from there. There is nothing like helping you figure out what you will like in the long run than having something in your hands and using it. Good luck!
Mike
I was a pack a day smoker for 30 years. In my experience while switching to vaping. using 18mg and found my self to be chain vaping 
I feel like I'm getting too much nic. I just put an order in for new bottle (same juice at 6mg) drastic cut on nic. 
