Sew, whaddya know?

I believe I may be in the market for a sewing machine soon. I've never used one, but I think my inner crafter is about to burst at the seams, so to speak, if I don't buy one.

So, I'm asking those of you who are experienced in this area - is there anything I should be looking for? I am clueless, but basically it would be used for simple tasks at first, and then maybe more complicated things if I get that far with it. I don't want to spend a heap of money, but I'd like something that will work without too much frustration.

Any advice?