I would like to throw some pragmatism into the discussion. Most newbies will quit. The most important question right now is: will you practice regularly.

There isn't a Squire, or an Epiphone or low end Pacifica that won't help you anwer this question. And most likely, you will find the used market flooded with these guitars at a fraction of the original price.

Unless the guitar has a serious flaw, which is extremely rare, all of these makes will allow you to practice chords, scales and songs. And if you do find that you [u]will[/u] practice and can progress, it is much better to go looking for a better guitar at that point.