Here are some questions you may need to anwser for yourself. I will try to help you a little.
1) Dirt or water? -Do you want to grow in soil or in some other medium? Generally soil is more forgiving, but its easier to nail the watering with a Hydro type system. hydro also means you have to invest in nutrients.
2)Type of Lights- floresecents, Compact flores, high pressure sodium, metal halide. the main questions here is what is your budget, how big is your space, and how can you vent the heat. if your in your own house you can vent away and therefore run hotter lights. if your growing in a closet in a apartment then like me you are forced to get creative and use CFLs.
This is just the beginning... I am pretty nubie myself, but ive done allot of research and am glad to help a fellow nubie out with the wisdom i have collected...