just getting started and bike concerns.

When I started triathlon in 2007 I went to the lbs and bought a road bike with seat upgrade, pedals, shoes and helmut. My bike is maybe one step up from entry level and I spent just over $2000.  Later bought a wetsuit, tri clothes and aerobars for the bike. 

The $2000 deal you are looking at seems like a great deal to me, although I'm really glad I bought a road bike and not a tri bike as I haven't done a tri since 2008 but still enjoy riding my bike a lot.

Always exciting to find a new sport that excites you.

Triathlons have a lot of equipment that can add up to some significant money.

Key with all bikes is having the bike fit you well. Many newbies skip this part as it is an additional expense they try to avoid but it often comes back to bite them as the get the wrong size bike and end up buying a second bike that actually fits them.

Used bikes are normally a better value, but you need to be patient to find a bike that fits you, is in good shape and is appropriate for your goals.

Google stack and reach on Slowtwitch and you can learn a lot of bike fit.

If I were you, I'd go to all the local bike shops and talk with the shop. See what they recommend but be leery if they just have you get on a bike. Often they have prior years stock that are at sweet price. You will learn and be better educated to make a solid decision.

I'm definitely N+1 on bicycles. So it is hard for me to say wait on it. Also, with the racing/training addiction, comes the gear addiction.

First, I would stay far from the Softride. It was gimmicky when it first came out (mid 1990s) and parts are hard to come by. I sold a Softride MTB when I worked at a LBS and still feel dirty about it (15 years later).

Though a big chunk of cash, the Nytro package is good. You really do get everything that you'll need and they're not selling you off brand crap. With that said, you're also only getting entry-level gear. The Slice is a decent bike that can be upgraded as parts break. You're getting a 105 drivetrain. Many will tell you that there is little difference between 105 and ultegra while some might even go as far as saying that 105 isn't much worse than Dura Ace. You can find many threads about this argument here on BT. In endurance cycling there isn't much shifting to be done. So chances are that your 105 components will last you forever. If you were road racing, parts will break all of the time. The only thing that you will be tempted to upgrade will be the wheelset. The slice comes with aluminum shimano wheels that are great for training, but with time you'll want some free speed for racing. It's hard not to want that additional 1MPH. It's mentioned on this forum from time to time, but at ST it's downright sinful to race in training wheels. We all get sucked in.

The Kestrel Talon is also an entry level bike with a 105 drivetrain. At $850 it too will come with aluminum wheels. The only advantage is that if you ever decide to no longer race triathlons, you can slap some drop bars, shifters/brakes, and cables and you have a road bike. The Talon is designed as a hybrid road/tri bike with geometry somewhere between a laid back road bike and a up in the cockpit time trial bike. Apart from the hunt for race wheels, you'll also have $1200 to spend on wetsuit, tri kit, helmet (even with the package you're going to want an aero helmet), shoes , pedals, and a backpack. If you shop around you can find all of these things for less than $1200. You just have to be patient.

With the Talon, just make sure that the size/fit is right for you. All-in-all a bike's just a bike and you're the engine, but if the engine isn't comfortable, the bike is a hunk of junk.