Getting a feel for the gun is a great first step. When I went to buy a 9mm, I was Glock all the way. I knew it was a great gun at an affordable price point with a long track record of reliability...then I picked one up and it didn't fit my hand at all. It was way too blocky for my liking. I can see why it gets the love that it does, but it was not comfortable to me.
Instead, I went with the Ruger SR9. 17 round mag, typical Rugerly over-built, and several safety features that I wanted in a plinking/woods/last ditch home defense gun as a handgun n00b. On top of that, this bad boy is slim and fits my hand well. It even has a switchable grip padding should you like a straighter or more rounded purchase against your thumb/pointer webbing.
I'm really happy with it. It shoots cheap and didn't break the bank. However, as a stand alone home defense weapon, it's not my favorite. I want something that both myself and my wife can use. She does not like shooting, but she needs to know how to fire the gun in an emergency situation. Also, no matter how many safeties there are, I just don't feel comfortable with a gun that has to be cocked with a live round for a near instant use. For me, that is no problem. However, I know that my wife would freeze up under the stress of holding in the slide catch, pulling back on the slide, and letting a round load (without pinching the daylights out of her hand).
Our typical load out at home is a 12 gauge 870 with buckshot. She knows how to rack it, shoulder it, and fire it. Furthermore, as a just-in-case when I'm out of town, she has a snub nose .38 loaded and ready to go. In a high stress novice shooter situation, it's hard to beat a revolver...except on capacity.
I still really enjoy shooting my 9mm. Like I said, it's cheap and good practice. My true love is my 686 .357 with a 4" barrel. Points well, shoots well, and gives me the option of fairly cheap ammo in .38 special as well as a bit more thump with .357.