[Mr. Zip]

Get an slr if you want awesome pictures. You can get nice pictures with a point and shoot, but they're going to happen more often with an slr.

MPs don't matter. As long as you have 8 you'll be okay, unless you want to print posters. You only need more than ten if you're printing higher than 11x14 photos.

You cannot go wrong with a Canon. They're time proven. Nikons are great too. I shoot with a Nikon D60, and I love it.

EDIT: The P90 is not an SLR. It just has a mode that simulates it.

 

[Mr. Zip]

i never thought about it that way.

but i am actually set on buying the XSI (canon rebel)

its very nice

Good! Because the lens on the P90 is actually crap, not amazing. Optical zoom sucks 100% of the time, guarantee.