i just started closet growing and my advice is this.

dont just grow 1 or 2 plants. you need some leeway to learn (i did. ALOT of leeway.) and seeds dont last long (well long enough.)

flouros are ok, but they DO generate more heat per watt than an external ballast system, and you cant evacuate all the heat from the source, as in an air cooled hood. if you wanna see my set up, look in the "newbs first grow" thread in indoor growing.

but if you are going to buy your first light, i would not get a HID cause it will burn up your seedlings. you probably should get some CFLs and see how long those'll cut it. but what do i know. have fun!