first time vinyl

I recommend the Bang & Olufsen turntables, from about the mid-1980s on, as a great starting point. No, they're not the last word in performance, but they are suprisingly good, and setup is extremely easy. Soundsmith has a variety of good cartridges available for them, and all you need to do is plug in a cartridge, and set the vertical tracking force. No VTA, anti-skate, damping, azimuth, overhang, cartridge-tonearm matching, etc. etc. to worry about . . . and you can set them on just about anything, and they don't have feedback problems, and they don't skip.

If you go to Beoworld.com, they have a complete breakdown of models, eras, etc. You could pick up a used Beogram RX2 or TX2, a new Soundsmith SMMC4 cartridge, a Creek OBH-18 phono preamp, and a few good bottles of wine all well within your budget . . . and when you outgrow it, it's perfect for a second system.

Beo's are easy but limited with cartridge choices from what I'm told. For a newbie, I'd suggest something simple and clean like a music hall or if buying used, get it locally. Many great used tables like Thorens and Sota are out there but setting them up can be a chore.
Lastly, don't skimp too much on the phono pre. If it's built in to your current receiver, odds are it's crap. For $200, there are some great little choices out there.

Yes I agree, you have many fewer cartridge options with B&O tables. But the B&O cartridges and the Soundsmith replacements are of very high quality, argubly at least as good as anything in the same price class. They're also a good value for the money, and will last a very long time if cared for.

So if playing around with the turntable itself, and trying out different cartridges, etc. is important to you, then maybe something else . . . a Music Hall MMF-5 is a great recommendation, and a nice-sounding turntable. But I've personally compared the MMF-5, MMF-7, and a B&O Beogram 7000/MMC2, and the B&O walks all over the Music Halls . . . and it's automatic, to boot.

There's nothing at Beoworld.com

I second the Rega recommendation - as close as it gets to "set it and forget it," so it is great for newbies. Much better than Music Hall or Project in that price range - better soundstage and imaging in particular. If you buy from a Rega dealer and also put a Rega cartridge on it, you will get a discount on the whole package, or at least the vast majority will do this. Enjoy!