I recommend the Canon G5.

Ant, it's because the onboard software (algoryhms -sp? -) which the camera uses to sharpen images simply isn;t as good as in Photoshop (or most other high end editing software). With in camera sharpening, you tend to get haloes around the images, and the sharpening tends to induce noise in flat areas of colour. If you use Photoshop, use Unsharpen mask, which allows you to shapren only the edges of elements in the image and not the flat areas, thus limiting noise. You can also get a good look at the amount of sharpening you're getting, whereas with the in camera sharpening, you're stuck with it.
There are some good sharpening actions out there, which plug into Photoshop and tend to even be better than Photoshops, or there are third-party filters that are better still.

Hope that helps.

With camera equipment, it's a very tricky business. The Nikon does look good, but my main concern would be a lack of ISO 100. I believe it starts at 200. With 100 you get super clean pics (if at slightly higher shutter speeds).
The shutter lag should be pretty non-existant on any digital SLR (basically limited to the time it takes to raise the mirror).
The Canon is no longer a crippled version of the 10d with the release of the Russian firmware hack, which gets around the DR's greatest limitation its lack of adjustable flash level. Also, with the up and coming second hack (both for free), the addition of ISO 3000 and something (for really dark pics (though the higher the ISO, the greater the noise - much like grain in high ISO film).
As for batteries, I don;t know what the Nikon's is like but the canon fully charges in about 40 mins, and last a real long time. It also uses a seperate charger, so if you have two batteries, you can use the camera and charge the other - unlike, say, my Sony 717, which takes maybe an hour and a half and charges on-board, so you can;t use the camera.
With the body, colour isn;t that important; rather, its the quality of the finish. My canon's showing signs of age now, but it's paint is pretty resiliant. My sony is like powder. look at it and it scuffs.
If colour is important, they've released a black-bodied DR in Japan (it's called the Kiss). I don;t know, but I suspect the next release of the DR over here will be black.
But if you wait, as so many people do, think of all those shooting opportunities you'll miss.

My advice, the Canon or the Nikon will be great cameras. Either way, do your research, try them out in the shop (just for the ergonomics), and then put your money down and get out there and take some pics. Just remember - post process.

The daylight washout shouldn't be an issue with anything that has a Li-Ion battery.

If you go with a digital SLR go with a Nikon or Canon.

Depends on the user and the settings on the camera. Usually though I just tell everyone to get a tripod for it.

I am very much someone who refuses to over sell junk to people (I am not on commision, and while BBY expects me to for the managers bonus I have no desire to), and that is the only type of camera I really push it on.

Also, as I said, don't get those extended warranties, they are mathamatically shown to be a rip off. Don't fall for the scare tactics that the sales guys give you. Do you really think that Canon, Kodak, Sony, Olympus, Fuji and such would sell stuff they expect to burn out in a year let alone 4?

Nearly every camera that is broke that is brought in is from dropping it. No extended warranties cover that, and if a sales man claim it does, read the fine print and promptly call him a liar.

While you may lose on one product here or there without the extended warranty, the fact is that when you average it out over all your items it is always cheaper to purchase without the extended warranty.

Not as big of deal as some make it out to be. Most Li-Ion last 16-24 months. While the manufacture suggests replacements every 12-16, I found few go out in 12....

Double As will only last like 20-30 minutes in a camera, whereas Li-Ion will last over an hour and usually 1.5 hours.

Go with a SLR if you can afford it. I know on the Canon S1 the stabilization works very well.

Oh, I must have a link to that firmware hack....I demand it!

A computer has much more proccessing power to clean up photos. So it is definately better to use the computer to sharpen photos.

Well, at retail (go buy online) it is 300 dollars difference. That is quite a big difference, though I agree the Nikon is better, but the Canon is solid too.