You can't go wrong with Align for a first real heli. Realistically it's the best value per dollar, you get something very nice without breaking the bank. Also EVERYONE carries Align parts and pretty much every heli pilot has experience with Align, availability and knowledge base make it a great choice for a beginner.

Don't get a clone, it seems like a steal at the prices some are offered for but from what I've seen you can easily end up spending more than an Align kit and driving yourself crazy getting the thing flying halfway decently. Some work out great but as far as I'm concerned it's just not worth the risk...also I'd rather use my money to support a company that's developing their designs rather than one that's just copying someone elses work as cheaply as possible.

So yeah, Align is the go to recommendation for a beginner. If something else really catches your eye just do a little research on/ask around about it, there are a lot of nice helicopters.