[GainfulShrimp]

I think the choice is largely down to ergonomics and personal preference on the handling. Once you've bought into either Canon or Nikon, it's likely you'll spend quite a bit on extra lenses and accessories for your camera after a while and it will then be very expensive to switch to the other brand because the camera body will only form a part of your overall investment.

I understand why you're frustrated with your XTi but I would give it another chance and get a replacement. There are many happy XTi (called 400D in Europe) users and they wouldn't be happy if their cameras were playing up like your copy has so far.

In terms of technical features and image quality, there's very little difference between (similarly priced) cameras of either of the big two brands... there are pros and cons of specific models but they tend to balance out overall so I would visit a camera shop where you can try both cameras. Handle both, get a handle for how they feel to you in your hands. Look into the menus and ask the sales asst to demonstrate the main features, then come back here with any specific questions if you can't get a straight answer from the sales person.