Agreed. Stick with canon or nikon, especially if you're getting a dslr.
If you want a point and shoot, canon powershot cameras are great, for a more advanced point and shoot, check out the Canon G9, G10, or G11, and for an entry level DSLR, check out the Canon Rebel cameras (they're all about the same if you have no clue what you're doing...) Or the Nikon D40, or D60.
For the higher end cameras, definitely do some research before buying. Know what you're getting into.