> Start off with machines, they're safer. When you get stronger use free weights as well.

I'm skeptical of this advice. Getting stronger with weight machines (which build strength in the big muscle groups well, but isolate them more than free weights so that you don't develop the smaller muscle groups that are important to stability and control) before switching to free weights means that with the switch you'll either be wasting time using free weights at a level that doesn't challenge your large muscle groups or be more dangerous than if you'd started them on day one of lifting.