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I'm an experienced climber, have friends to go with and have had an introduction to ice climbing from a mountain guide. With the equipment, I would feel more than confident to go and top rope an ice climb in easy terrain and build experience that way. I was speaking to a friend who has Quarks and he said that I'd be better to go straight for Nomics, but I am hesitant to just trust his opinion. I'm unlikely to buy anything soon, or this winter, just interested in different opinions to build my knowledge.
chiroshi-
Yeah fair enough. I've no idea. But the process above was what I used to get into ski touring/mountaineering and paragliding. Worked well.
I think we can sweat the gear too much, I know I do. I have nice kit and I often get left behind by people with way worse kit but better skills. Just grab anything, something, second hand and get stuck in. Just keep cash spare for training, it'll be the best place to spend it.
skinny
Perhaps no need to buy anything yet? Unless you're more than beginner and you've a group of mates better than you to go climbing with (but I'm guessing not as you'd be asking them not here?). Use whatever money you have to sign up to a course with Glenmore lodge (or equal), make friends and learn.