Dude, stop trying to sell Olympus. He was asking for C or N. Stop being such a fanboy. Otherwise people will start bringing in the K10D into the discussion, which is much better value for money than Olympus.
Well, dude, maybe TS never heard of anything else than C & N, just like me when I wanted a dSLR. C & N are making a lot of noise on the market. I am no fanboy (you mean fun boy or my bad English?), I welcome K10D or whatever if it is in the same range.
I say, widen your horison, think outside the box. Read my last sentences, which you obviously didn't, instead of start "dude":ing so quick. I am not trying to sell anything but there are definitely more than two brands, which a newbie my not be aware of, or may not think about. Personally, I had Olympus since about 1980 and still, when I was getting my dSLR, I was only thinking about C & N, just like TS. You are so very wrong, I am not trying to sell anything and not a "fun boy" (I guess you misspelled), I was in the same clothes, believe it or not, I was telling a true story. No fun to be a starter in dSLR, a lot of things you have to think about because one thing is sure, regardless what you start with, it is very expensive in the end, so making a choise is about thinking a long way ahead. Not just C & N because in the end, it is not C & N that is taking the picture, but the one holding the camera. So, unless a person is loaded with money, it is iportant even to think about the next step.
BTW, talking about next step, I think I will be able to use ALL my lenses for about as long as Olympus will make dSLR cameras and I will have one. How long do you think a 400D or a D40x user can use his or her lenses? Until next model is presented in a few months time? I think actually what body one starts with is less important than what lens option he/she has. Both C & N have some nice glasses, but for how much? So, if a person is not willing to start all over again, a long term thinking is more important than C & N.
You like it or not, that is your business. I just talk about my views. If TS is disagreeing or don't want to hear about other options, I suggest TS complains. I guess he/she is mature enough to do that.