Newbie questions....

[DMK]

O.K.,.... I'm looking for some info and what some of your favorites are.
I haven't smoked a pipe for a lot of years, since I gave up the long distance driving. I was a casual and uninformed pipe smoker at best. I have and old Medico laying around here somewhere, just can't for the life of find it right now.
I'm looking for, I guess, a poker shaped pipe as I would like the option of setting it down without a stand...
What is a good, but not too expensive maker? as I'm not sure I will stay with it and don't want to waist a bunch of cash I could spend on cigars...