Hmm, I remember reading something like this when I first got into smoking. The main things it said to look for were quality construction; the edges and seams all looked tight, thickness of the material, since thin metal lets heat escape easier, and some features, like a removable ash pan (man, I wish I had a removable ash pan now!)
As for the size or type of smoker, that is all a matter of preference. You can make award winning BBQ from a vertical, horizontal, big, small, bullet, a old drum, propane tanks; just about anything a guy could imagine.
However, most new people like the BULLET type smokers because they are small and less expensive than the other types. I think because of their popularity, some guides for newbies focus on bullet smokers a little more because they are the most popular for someone new to smoking.
Lastly, if I were writing a guide to buying a smoker for newbies, I would be sure to include a few details about the basic modifications that people make to these smokers.
As for using the smoker, that's a whole different guide ;)
