I am a beginner who just went through this process–complete with reading all the archives and making mistakes along the way–so my experience might help you, especially if you’re in the US.
To get started, you might try a Tallgrass Winds bamboo (www.tallgrasswinds.com). The Tallgrass will be about $70. Steve Cox is helpful and is happy to discuss your needs and make suggestions. He made my bamboo in about 2 weeks, with offset holes, and it’s a great flute.
I believe that it’s very suitable for a beginner. I’m a person who was thrown out of music lessons by four different teachers on four different instruments because “Oh, honey, you’ll just NEVER be able to keep up in a class.” Among other things. I was also proclaimed to have “the wrong kind of lower lip” to play flute. So, I think that I am uniquely qualified to determine if a flute is good for a beginner–if I can play it, then it’s probably a miraculously good flute for a beginner.
Another good choice would be a Casey Burns Folk Flute. They have had very good reviews here, although I haven’t tried one myself. I think Mr. Burns has them available most of the time. You might want to go with one of them directly, or to get one to go along with a bamboo after you’ve decided you like flute.
Mr. Burns’ more expensive flutes are very good, as well. I have a boxwood Rudall which I adore–it’s the love of my life and the only thing I took when I had to evacuate for a hurricane earlier this summer (didn’t have the Tallgrass then, or it would have gone, too). He’s also helpful and responsive, and will recommend an instrument to suit your particular needs.
Playing two flutes has helped me learn faster, particularly since I’m doing it alone. Having had such poor luck with teachers in the past. 
While you’re noodling along on those, you can take your time deciding which Big Name you’d like to get in line for!
Olwell also makes good bamboo flutes (I’ve heard), but I was never able to contact him directly and the waiting time for one seller was about a year when I checked.
I don’t recommend going the Dixon route, at least not the one or two-piece variety. My first flute was a two-piece, and it is still much more difficult than the Tallgrass or the CB. I was able to get sound out of it, but that sound has never gotten very much better. It’s just a real struggle. Reminds me a lot of trying to pump up a leaky tire. Perhaps an experienced, good flute player would have no trouble with it, but I didn’t find it . . . rewarding. Considering that the Tallgrass costs the same or less, I’d go with the Tallgrass if I had it to do over again.