Hey Nateo, welcome to the disease! And to this forum, where you'll find friendly folks who are afflicted worse than you are.
I'd say your best bet for getting your first machine is going to be Craigslist. What you should look for depends heavily on how interested you are in the repair/maintenance side of the hobby. I think bringing a dead or dying old machine back to life is sometimes more fun than playing, but maybe it's not for everybody. Anyway if you can find something that's not working, you're more likely to get a better deal. Watch Craigslist closely, have a price range in mind, and when you find something that fits that price range don't hesitate to go get it. Unless it's a theme or an art package that you absolutely can't stand, your first game doesn't have to be your one true love -- just something to learn on.
I will also say that 90% of people in this hobby think Gottlieb is across the board better than other manufacturers. Without commenting on whether or not that's the case, I think it can work in your favor to know that a LOT of Bally and Williams games are a ton of fun, and totally worth pursuing.
Good luck!! Let us know how you make out. Keep your eye on the Craigslist thread here ("Some good-looking EM Classics just came up on CL") for a good sense of fair price nationally, and watch your local Craigslist for something that looks fun.
