What type of sewing machine should I get ?

DONT get a cheap one from wal mart. I'd get a cheap Bernina or Janome because they are great machines which are sturdy. You should probably expect to pay about $250 for a good starter machine that does all the basic stitches. A computerized machine is way too advanced for a beginner. Get one from a reputable sewing/vacuum store and get it serviced regularly. The one I bought had free servicing for a year so when I kept messing things up as a beginner it was free to fix. That's not true of a wal mart cheap machine. I think the extra expense is worth the help for the fixes!