In this issue of ASJA Monthly, financial journalist Russell Wild goes over the choice between the Traditional IRA versus the Roth IRA. Yeah, it's not terribly juicy but you'll be glad you went over it down the line:

The Traditional IRA allows you to sock away $4,000 for tax
year 2005 if you are under 50; $4,500 if over 50. (For 2006, the
respective numbers are $4,000 and $5,000.) The money you put
into a traditional IRA is generally tax-deductible. You can't touch
that money without paying a penalty until you turn 59. At that
point, you can start to withdraw it, but you'll need to pay income
tax on both the principal and any growth in the account.

The Roth-IRA is available to those with an Adjusted Gross
Income (AGI) of less than $110,000 a year. It allows you to sock
away the very same amount as the traditional IRA. But the Roth
allows your money to grow tax free. You will never have to pay taxes on any of the money you put into your Roth, or any of the
gains. You don't, however, get any deductions on the money you
contribute to the Roth.

More here (PDF)