If you're going to use the credit card as a credit card (that is, you won't be paying it back immediately, so you'll be paying interest on it), I'd exhaust every other option available to you first: if you're a student, a personal loan from your educational institute; personal loan from a bank; loan from friends or family, etc.
Credit cards have destroyed many lives. As a short-term solution or a method of payment they're great, but as a long-term loan solution they're absolutely terrible.
Only ever let a credit card become part of your financial planning if you know *exactly* what you're doing (ie, have enough money to use it as a short short term loan, paid off in full every month, mainly to gain points/airmiles etc).
Never get a credit card because you can't afford something. Credit cards are ways of juggling money you already have, not new income.
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For every post I aim for 3 or 4 typos per line
Well, that makes three of us in agreement (once upon a time a rarity for us three!)
I've used a credit card for paying for anything and everything I can for 15 years now, and have never paid the banks a cent of interest - I just make sure I pay it off on time every month. It's virtually an interest free short-term loan (not counting your annual card fee) if you manage your CC this way - a tremendous facility. If you use it to pay for stuff you can't afford, it's quicksand.
Interesting subject. In the USA credit cards are key to having a good credit score. Without them you will pay higher interest for everything from houses to cars to personal loans. With them you can loose your arse. There are ways to manage the cards that are helpful.
You can carry a balance on a credit card and it not be a bad thing.
Consider these things about using your credit card.
If you don't carry a balance on a card, use one that gives cash back. It is free money for what you are doing anyway
If you do carry a balance look for low interest rates. The credit card companies can change rates at any time so consider low interest checks for the life of the loan on your card. They will offer rates as low as 1.99% for the life of the transaction. At this rate you could max out the card and put the money in a bank account and pay for the interest.
If you carry a balance spread your balances over several cards not going over 50% of any one cards limit. This will increase your credit score.
If you like to travel use a card that gives unrestricted points for travel like Amex or Capital One.
Remember that it is known that people spend 20% more when using a credit card over cash. Be aware of this.
Consider using those low interest checks for the life of the loan for big ticket items like cars and other durable goods.
Consider a business card if you are running a business. While you will still personally guarantee the loan they will typically have business perks like the miles/points cards without the limits that consumer cards have.
Consider a card from Sam's Club or Costco if you live around one of these. They have additional benefits like cash back that you can't get anywhere else.
The bigger your volume, the higher your credit limits will be. We went from having just a few thousand in credit limit to over $200K in credit limit with our volume from business travel over several years. At one point the credit cards we used the most were increasing our limits each month.
If you use a no-fixed limit card like Amex you do have a limit. It is normally based on the previous 3 months. Your highest monthly balance would be your limit on a single charge.
Debit/ATM cards are more dangerous than credit cards. You have much more consumer protection in the USA with a credit card than a debit/atm card.
We put everything we can on a card including buying 2 vehicles with low interest checks, paying college tuition on a miles card, purchasing nearly all of our t-shirt equipment, and much, much more. If you ever have a bum product you can dispute the charge and we have been successful in getting our money back on a number of occasions. We do carry a large balance but nearly all of it is below 5% which is acceptable for us, your mileage may vary.
What credit card would you recommend? 
