This is an opinion that's different from most. I've come by this opinion from experiencing part of it, and by watching several others go through the same thing. You ready?
A 'hand-held' radio is probably not the best idea in the world for a 'first' radio. Why? Because they tend to be very limiting in ability, and quite difficult to 'master' without always referring to the manual. That does NOT mean that they don't have their uses, because they certainly do! But be very realistic in what you want or expect from their use.
A 'hand-held' radio's primary draw back is it's antenna. If you expect to carry it in your shirt pocket, or on your belt, and don't want an awkward antenna poking you in inconvenient places, that antenna has to be small/short. A small or short antenna means you will not have much range, there's just no way around that. Sure, there will be occasions when it'll 'hit' any repeater that's local, but other times when it won't 'hit' anything but the floor when you get mad at it.
A small radio is nice in that it's more convenient to carry. They can also be made smaller to a ridiculous point, how the @#$$ do you hit just one button at a time? Some of us are more 'challenged' in that aspect than others. And because 'hand-held's are so small you are going to be 'blessed' with using a menu for the particular adjustments you may want. There's no standardization with menus, they are almost all different from radio to radio, and then you get to learn what each @#$ menu item does. (Can you tell I don't like menus?)
'Hand-held' radios are just the thing for short range, walk around communications. They will never do, or have the abilities of a fixed, or mobile radio with a decent sized antenna. If that satisfies your wants, then that's what you ought to get. Just don't expect to do things they were never meant to do. When you first get into this hobby I don't think a 'hand-held' radio will keep you interested too long, too limiting. Best advice is to do a lot of thinking about what you want, and or expect to be able to do. Get whatever will satisfy those expectations.
- 'Doc
