Hi there!

I'm sure you will be very happy with the a700. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone not being happy with it. You can read our own a700 user reviews on this site and be sure to add your own once you've had a chance to put it through its paces.

As for lenses, I'm extremely happy with the following kit:
Sony 11-18
Fantastic ultra-wide, great distortion control. A little slow, but not a big deal with a700. Tamron version basically the same but cheaper. Another popular one is the Sigma 10-20. Also Tamron is coming out with a 12-24 that's been getting a lot of hype.
11-18 example:
Downtown Vancouver

Sony CZ 16-80
It's a Zeiss, 'nuff said.
16-80 example:
_DSC1348

Konica Minolta 28-75 f/2.8
Fantastic! Talk about bang for the buck! This was my most used lens until I got the Zeiss. You lose the wide end because of the crop factor, but it's still very usable and gives great results. The KM version is hard to find these days, but the Tamron again is very similar and more widely available.
28-75 example:
_DSC0145

Minolta 70-210 f/4 "Beercan"
A cult classic. This lens dates back to 1985, but it is still one of the most sought after lenses in the Minolta lineup. You definitely get a lot of bang for the buck out of this one. It's popularity is mostly due to it's fantastic bokeh. In fact, this thing produces nicer bokeh then lenses three or four times its cost. It can suffer from CA, but if you are careful about avoid such situations it shouldn't be a problem.
70-210 example:
_DSC0684

I also have the Minolta 50mm f/1.4, but honestly don't use it much. It's nice to have for extreme DOF control and low light though. I also have a Minolta 75-300, and honestly it's nothing more than an expensive paperweight. Of course don't take my word for any of these lenses, you have to find what works for you and your style of shooting. Like Anbesol mentioned dyxum has the most extensive a-mount lens database to be found anywhere.