Personally I advocate for starting small... try a few things before making a decision - you may find you prefer MTL over DL. I've been vaping for around 3 years and i still flip back and forth. Devices these days are relatively inexpensive (picked up an AIO for $20 and have been very happy with that for a restricted lung device).
I've had good experiences with eLeaf, Joyetech, and Segeli products, mostly bad experiences with Smok - though its been a year since i tried them last (if a dog bites you every time you go to pet it... stop trying to pet it).
As far as eLiquid goes - try a bunch of stuff, then in a month, try it again - your taste buds will change over the next several months as you transition off cigarettes - what tastes fantastic now may taste like dog poop later (and vice-versa).
Other general 1st timer tips:
Vape through your cravings! Some people wean off cigarettes (cut back to the two a day they can't live without - with the morning coffee and after dinner are some common ones). That's fine, but for the most part try to vape your face off through the craving and give it 20 minutes before firing up the stinky. I resolved myself to never smoke again, so i didn't... and I was an huge ....... for a few weeks. Remember you are replacing the nicotine aspect of cigarettes - but the absorption time to the brain is much more delayed than with cigarettes, and cigarettes have a crap ton of other stuff you are addicted to as well (MAOIs...).
DRINK LOTS OF WATER! the "vape" you exhale is largely moisture from your mouth, so you are more at risk for dehydration if you don't consume hydrating liquids.
Check out the pinned threads on the beginners forum here on ECF - they have lots of good info!
