I'm going to go ahead and jump in here so that Kane doesn't have to do everything, lol. Just to let you know if it seems like Kane is the one mostly helping you it's most likely because everyone looking at it feels he's giving you the real deal and there is simply not much more to say.
On starting with strength vs. hypertrophy, first of all, the Rippletoe is NOT just a strength program. Truth is if it was there would be more of an emphasis on top sets rather than sets accross. As it is, it is designed to address both issues very well for beginners. Different people will get differing amounts of mass from it but mass WILL come.
However, regardless of mass there is a VERY good reason to get a good strength foundation before you start looking at "mass" programs. It is simply that the more weight you are putting up the more success you will have at those mass programs. A strength program will address neural efficiency very quickly and that is one of the primary strength adaptations, allowing you to genearate intenstiy a lot closer to your genetic postential and therfore making the mass program a much better stimulus for growth.
Another thing is this business about mass vs. hypertrophy is way over indulged. The so-called "strength" programs that Kane has mentioned will make you big AND strong. Look at it this way: except for a very few genetically "different" individuals, you can't put a couple hundred pounds on your primary lifts, like squat, deadlift, bench (and others) and not be a whole lot more massive. That mas may not all be the esthetic mass of a pro bodybuilder but all that is a whole lot easier to address once you have the base.
Strength and Hypertrophy: Not So Different by Madcow