I would recommend going to the following link, www.gefanuc.com/plc/versamax/vmspecials. You can choose the package you want. They range in price from about $150 to $700, and they all include the software on CD, plus the programming cable, documentation, and the PLC. You can then go to GE Supplynet at https://commerce.supply.ge.com/supplynet/ and order what you want using a credit card.
Taj, AutomationDirect.com has many low cost starter kits. We've been using their 205 and 405 series for about 5 years now with no problems. The programming software is windows based..oh and you can build a whole PLC for ~$1000. Not bad at all.