Stick with the Japonese helis if you can afford it. If your budget won't permit that right now, then a good entry in the 400 size class is the Blade 400. It comes with a decent radio that can hold up to ten different birds and it offers reasonable adjustability. The Blade 400 comes ready to fly. If you want a notch up from this get a Trex 450. But you'll have to buy a radio (buy only 2.4 GHz ones!).

There are lots of different opinions on this subject and some people feel very strongly about their particular preferences. At the "less-than-a-grand" price point for a heli and a radio more money gets better stuff. Just don't buy a cheap heli that comes with a radio ready-to-fly like the Axe CP, Blade CP, etc., as they are more trouble than they are worth.