Indoor trainer where to start?

Try to get a fluid trainer if you can swing it. The mag trainers are noisy as all get out, so much so they are hard to use. I bought a cheapo mag trainer to start, used it a few times and it was deafening, never used it again. 

I found my Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer on craigslist for $200, much better noise level and a very good trainer.

Check out the fluid trainers at Performance Bike, my brother in law bought on there, think it was $140 or so, he is happy with it and it is a decent, quiet, trainer.

CycleOps fluid 2 is also good (older units have had leak issues) and around here are often cheaper on CL than the KK units.

The KK unit has a published power vs speed curve that can be useful in training.  If using a simple rear wheel speedo/cpu you can still use your speed to train by using virtual power.  I have the BT cycling plan in a spreadsheet that uses virtual power all based on speed.  No problem sharing it if you get a fluid trainer. So much better knowing what you have do based on testing and structured workouts.

BTW, great deal your local CL on this KK fluid unit for $100! Riser and mat just down the street from you!

Usually the used market for trainers is your best bet.  Fluid trainers tend to last a long time, and companies like Cycleops and Kurt Kinetic have honored warranties on their trainers even if you are not the original owner and do not have a receipt.  I'd say the going rate for a used fluid trainer like the Cycleops Fluid2 or the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is around $200

If you live in an apartment (or plan to use the trainer upstairs), you probably want to seriously consider a fluid trainer and use some type of yoga mat (or similar) on the floor to keep the vibration noises to a minimum for the people below you.

I've had two fluid trainers and used my tri-bike with 650 wheels on each without any problems.  

My original trainer was a garage sale find.  The frame was rigid and the resistance unit spring-biased against the rear wheel.  I used it 2-3 winters.  The resistance unit eventually quit offering any resistance and someone else wanted it so I lived without for a year.  

My second trainer came from Performance Bike.  The frame flexes and the rider's weight keeps the wheel on the resistance unit.  If I stand and/or lean forward, I can pretty well unload the rear wheel.  If I sit up, I load it down so it's almost opposite what I experience on the road (I only stand when it's a hard effort, and if I sit up to get a drink, it's usually when I want a break or drink, not when I want to work harder.  

I had them on an unfinished concrete surface most of the time so didn't worry about sweat dripping onto the floor.  Now that I've set it up on a finished floor, I use a mat to contain the sweat.  

Get a fan.

Fold a towel over the stem so you can wipe your face.  

While my bike computer pickup is on the rear wheel, I just assume a 17.5 mph average (about what I averaged outside).  

I've never bothered with a dedicated trainer tire and not worn out standard road tires using the trainer, but others have.  

Read this on TR getting started.  Remember you'll lbe virtual power based.

In short, you need to get ANT+ or Bluetooth 4.0 speed and/or cadence sensors like the Garmin CSC10 for the bike and a USB dongle (antenna) for the PC/notebook PC.  With the ANT+ speed and cadence sensors you can use any ANT+ compatible head unit on your bike. I use a Bontrager Node 2.1. I bought everything used on ebay. The Node 2.1 with HRM strap I got for less then a new 1.1.  Shop around for deals.