Yes, before any real recommendations can be made, you have to tell us what you will want to do with your rig... Different situations call for different solutions...
Also, do you want to mostly tape soundboard? If so, you really only need a deck and some cables. Do you want to mostly tape audience? Then you'll have to get a full rig.
What kind of quality do you want? Do you want to enjoy it later but aren't really concerned about Super-Duper quality??? But a Minidisc and a Sony stereo condensor mic... Maybe $300 at the most...
Depending on the quality you want you can go from the cheap (crappy) minidiscs to the very pro and very expensive Sony TCD-D10II Pro Portable DAT... You can buy mics in various sizes and qualities... Radio Shack sells clip-on lapel mics (stealth style) for $24 each... Or you can get a pair of Neumann's for several thousand...
And to tell you the truth, it is kind of hard to answer your question... it is very ambiguous...
I think your best bet would be to read that first post lots... And keep referring back to it. Lurk here for a couple of months, read the FAQs, ask questions, read other peoples questions, etc...
Also, figure out what you think you will tape most often and try to work around that... I tape 90% of my stuff at a local bar where I have free access to the SBD and taping is very much allowed... So I bought all my stuff with this in mind... If you are going to be taping bands that don't allow taping, or you frequent a place that doesn't allow soundboard... well, you have to take all these things into consideration... I starting watching the guys that already tape at this bar and asked them questions... I talked to every taper I could think of or find...
I did that for a month or so - hard core research and let me tell you, I was one dumb newbie at the beginning (still dumb, though not so new)... Anyways, I eventually bought: ADK A-51S LEs > Edirol UA5 (Oade) > Nomad 3. My whole rig cost me about $1000 including all the details (stand, cables, bags, straps, batteries, etc...) But with it, I can tape anything (except stealth).
Anyways, good luck... You've made the correct decision coming here for answers! I think you are well on your way!!!
Terry
db.etree.org/twatts