what mtb for a beginner who is short?

[TigerMom]

My bike shop calculated the weight savings of getting a new wheelset with tubeless wheels would cost me about $1000 for a 1 pound weight savings.

My current full suspension, size small, Santa Cruz Juliana weighs about 27.5 pounds with pedals.

As to the hardtails, I am thinking about going with a Chinese brand called Triace that has a 14inch Carbon Hardtail 650B's with XT that weight less than 21pounds for about $2000 if I buy a DEMO bike. I have still yet to test it out yet. I am just in the thinking phase, worrying about poor quality/carbon cracking, warranty etc because I have never heard of this brand before.

[indysteel]

It looks like Triace is owned by some arm of Wal-mart as it's out of Bentonville, AR. For me, that would give me great pause. Quality aside, I just don't like a lot if their employment practices.

[Owlie]

I can definitely see the advantage of a hard-tail in the skill-development department. The little off-roading I've done has been with a cyclocross bike (so NO suspension), and I quickly found out that I had to be very careful in picking my lines. (And I have a lot of bruises to show for it.) With a full suspension, I could probably have been a bit less careful. "Body English" and bike handling become very important with a hard tail. (And here, full suspension isn't strictly necessary. Not so many rocks.) However, I'm also not a big believer in beating oneself up. You're not being paid to suffer. If full suspension would make you more comfortable and let you enjoy riding rather than feeling like you're being beaten up as you ride, get the full-suspension.

[TrekDianna]

I had a FS and sold it and now both my mtb's are HT. I just like them better. You really should try both and see which you are more comfortable with.