Well, there are 2 classics, but they probably don't fit in your budget. 1911 and Browning high power.
I'd recommend sticking with 9mm for now because of ammo prices. If you want to go to the range and practice, you want cheap ammo. The cheapest around (besides .22) is 9mm. You can pick up 100 rounds of 9mm at Walmart for $20.
I'd go to a range that will rent you guns (many do) and fire as many different guns as you can. I was able to fire a couple of 1911s, a couple of High Powers, a Kahr, an old Colt, a Keltec P3AT, a 9mm Sig of some sort, a Glock and Springfield XD. Except for the P3AT and 1911s, they were all 9mm.
Lots of folks don't like the plastic guns. I was lucky that I went in without any preconceived ideas. I shot them all and ended up liking the feel of the Brownings, 1911s, and the Glock and Springfield XD. Those were my 4 favorite. I found that right out of the box with no shooting experience at all, I was the most accurate with the 2 plastic guns, then the Browning and then the 1911. I ended up with a Springfield. I've also heard that the S&W M&P is a great plastic gun.
I think that in your price range, your best bet is probably either a nice .22 caliber, or one of the plastic guns.
The two plastic guns are known for their reliability, in that way they are like a Timex or a VW Bug. They just always work. The Glock has a huge aftermarket support (lots of mod/upgrade parts). The Springfield XD is newer and doesn't have the same options, but it's getting there. The Springfield XD has a grip angle like the BHP and 1911 which most folks seem to find more natural. You should be able to get one of the plastic guns for right at $500.
Shoot a bunch and see what you like before you spend any money. Fortunately, guns seem to hold their value, so there are lots of folks that buy, use a little, and then resell for pretty close to retail.
You may, once you've got a better idea, want to check out
Texas Gun Trader. Classifieds - Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols, Revolvers, Ammunition. It's an online gun classifieds ad for guns in Texas. You can search by distance from your zip code, which is pretty cool. That way you can buy face to face (actually almost all of the sales say "FTF only")