Originally Posted by Paul Markham

So speaketh the expert.

Seriously though.

Some of the best photography I've ever seen was done by amateurs. My youngest brother is an amateur photographer and his work kicks ass. He's a better photographer than me.

Everything depends on what you intend shooting.

Pics over the weekend of the kids or webmasters falling over drunk at a convention. Then go for a Nikon Coolpix.

Amateur pictures to impress people, then go for the Nikon D2X or the Canon D20, But get a profressional fixed lens. The Olympus is an old camera and the buffer drove me mad.