I would definitely recommend going the goggle route first of all! Don't scrimp on safety and comfort. As for markers you MUST try before you buy. You don't need to actually try the marker that you intend to buy before it arrives at your front door but you should try and (legally) get your hands on as many different types of marker as possible to decide what you are looking for then buy second hand... I have never bought a new marker and i've been playing for 11 years. Paintball is full of fashion victims so the turn over rate of markers is pretty high.
Also, it depends on: how old you are, how much you can afford, how serious you want to be, etc, etc. If you want to get on a team your best bet is to look on here for a team based near you. Get in touch with them and see if they would be willing for you to go along to a training session. If you fit in and they want you on their team you will be provided with advice on what to buy, what to avoid, etc.
Good luck!