First bike...HELP!

So I'm looking to get my first bike and have been shopping around on-line, reading reviews, checking out these threads, etc.  At this point I'm looking at one of two things:

1) a nice bike shop a block away, owned by my aunts family, with a decent selection...two bikes caught my eye: a Scott CR1 Team  was listed on clearance at $1849; and a Giant Trinity A1 that was listed at $1899...that, however, was the only tri bike in my price range in the entire store.  They had mostly road bikes, and the saleswoman suggested that as a new rider I should go the road bike route.  The benefit to going with this store is...well, it's a family friend.  I'm not sure how far that goes, but the saleswoman--who apparently lives right next to my aunt and uncle--said that I should mention them when I come in for a fitting. 

2) head down to another shop that's selling a Specialized Transition Elite ('07 model) for just over $1,000; or for $1849 (same as the Scott road bike)  I could get a Cervelo P2 SL. 

In the end only I know whether I truly want to go the tri bike route or not, and whether my wallet can handle the extra $800 hit.  However, my question for everyone here: 1) as a new rider and someone who hasn't done a triathlon before, would I be better off going the road bike route? and 2) all things equal, what do you think of the general deals I listed and the bikes themselves? 

Thanks for any and all help...I'm hopefully making the plunge in the next few weeks and don't want to regret what I end up purchasing.