Opening Strategies

[Trajan]

Gentlemen,

I am a short-time lurker, and first time caller, and am very new to this particular game, though I have plenty of experience in the genre.

My question regarding this game, and the opening moves is simple.

When playing SEIV Gold, do you find it more advantageous to rapidly expand to any planet that will support life? Or is it better not waisting precious initial colony ships on small planets with a very small ROI, and instead target your initial colony ships on breathable atmostphere planets -- that is assuming there are any within a reasonable distance.

Thanks!
Trajan