+1 on the Rocky Patels-
Cigars are the best. I find that the people that annoy me, are the ones that hate the smoke. Light up, they leave.
There is not a much better way for me to relax than with a cigar, tennis ball and my Border Collie.
For new smokers, Macanudo is a great all around cigar. Weak and a tad basic for me (been smoking them for a while), but for a newbie, they are perfect (IMO)- price is not bad, different sizes, stengths, etc.
Cubans can be over rated. They are usually (again, IMO) stronger ,and most prople may not like that. I tend to like stronger cigars, but there are only 1-2 cubans that I like, the rest do nothing for me.
FWIW- just because someone likes a cigar, it may be junk for you, and may not be what you like. Also, more money does not necessarily= better cigar. Case in point- my Father in Law used to smoke Davidoff's- they were like $12.00 a peice. Top of the line, etc. I hated them. Thought the taste was too trashy, didn't burn well, etc.
I'd find a cigar shop, tell him/ her that you are new, and ask for suggestions. Buy 2-3 of a few kinds, and try them. Save the labels of what you like. Bring them back- tell them what you liked. Don't be intimidated and feel the need to talk the lingo (I've been smoking cigars for about 14 years- my lingo knowledge is VERYlimited). If it's a good shop, they will teach you. It can be a simple "I like this because it tastes good to me".
DO NOT SKIMP on a humidor. NOTHING worse then spending money on a humidor, and having you cigars go bad. A perfect temporary humidor is a freezer strength ziplock. Also, a cigar box is good for a tempory solution. Fuentes come with a humidifing elemnet in them (for a full box). If you ask the shop, they usually have one lying around that they will give you. Flip that in the ziplock, and you are good to go. Save and buy a good humidor, if you decide to smoke as a hobby. Ask the shop what they reccommend- they will help you pick a good one with out spending a lot, or spending too little and getting junk.
As a rule, the smaller and shorter cigars burn hotter, longer ones burn cooler. That's all I can think of now.
Oh yeah- cigars are like guns. Support your local shops. They may be a tad more, but they will give you help.
M