We sell this brand at the bike shop I work at on weekends ("will work for bike parts"). This is a solid reliable starter mountain bike. Unless you plan on riding hard rocky, rooty, rough terrain the suspension fork is just extra weight. Additionally I can't speak to the quality of the Specialized fork, but at that price point I would suspect something "low end".
Best of luck with your search, be sure to explain that what ever bike you buy is to be treated like a best friend and not abused, thrown around, or left out in the rain.
Pirk