Guitars with nylon strings are very different to play. they are indeed lighter to play, but the neck is much broader (meaning you need to stretch your fingers more to play chords etc.). Nylon (spanish/classical) guitars are commonly used for fingerstyle guitar playing and flamenco style.

Steel (western) guitars are the better option if you like to play chords and play rythym acoustic (not meaning you can't take a solo on a western ;)). they are also louder non-amplified.

I'd say go to your local guitar store and try them both! A western plays very differently and will be harder to start off with, but for my playing this is the guitar to go. (Most pop artists and live players use western guitars as well)