First off, what's your budget?
I'd say one of the best beginner's guns would be a G&G Plastica. Nylon fiber body (supposed to be very nice) and an almost identical gearbox to the proline series. (just a few small differences) All you need is a battery and charger.
http://www.airsoftgi.com/index.php?cPath=139_24_237
I don't really recommend the JG/E1 armalites, they aren't as good as their other models. Externals are pretty crappy and the performance isn't the greatest. Several of my friend's have them.
For under $200, I'd say the G&G plastica is your best bet.
From someone with some experience, I will say, I have had good luck with G&G, their M14 is one of the best I have used, and their "sportline" series, if you will, is of acceptable quality.
However, for your money Echo 1 is fabulous, I have owned more then 7 of these rifles, over my airsoft time, and not one has failed me yet.
Some people like to mistreat or abuse their E1's, and then claim product error when they break down or need new parts. As long as you take care of your equipment it will not fail you.
As for CA, I bought a sportline MP5 a while back, and I don't have too many complaints. It is unnaturally fun to shoot, and delivers performance above and beyond its cost.
However, it doesn't even hold a candle to the Vecter arms Mp5, or similar Echo 1 variants. And for about 40$ more, i would say thats the way to go.
To finish off with looks, I don't recommend CA sportline, they don't look bad from a distance, and the tone is nice, but I have never had a gun body break on me the way that the MP5 does. I could just have gotten a bad one, but I am missing several pieces in the buttstock, and a part of the magwell, and that was with my most careful handling. CA sports tend to have acceptable internals, but overall lacking on the outer bodies (IMO), their P 90 is a definite example of this as well.
G&G is not bad, haven't heard too much negative about them, I personally prefer Echo 1, treat them right and they will serve you for years, CA? Well.... Fun to shoot