I'm surprised there are so few opinions on this subject - everybody seems to be talking about the great debate digital vs SLR. So here are my few thoughts. This isn't comprehensive - never could be, but I hope it helps.

Let me structure my opinion by users - find the type you are closest to and see if you agree or disagree.

CASUAL PHOTOGRAPHER - HOLIDAY SNAPPER

You probably want to use your camera for pictures of the kids, holidays, birthdays, weddings, friends and families - and don't need extra lenses, filters or flashes to carry around. Here you probably don't want to learn about photographic technique, wouldn't ever own or use a darkroom (wet or digital). You are looking for convenience in size, weight and cost.

Most likely to use a 35mm compact camera, maybe with a zoom, cost anywhere between £25 and £150 or a reasonable digital camera £150-£250 (say 3 megapixels)- unlikely to ever buy an SLR. Here a digital camera could be a benefit - you get to see you pictures quickly - don't miss out because you mis-took a photo and probably if you had processed film would have thrown away 10 out of 24 because they were out of focus, frame, or just went wrong.

Now you can look at them on a computer, get the best ones printed over the web or in Boots and e-mail some of them to family or friends. A friend of mine sends pictures of her new baby every day to her mum who lives a long way away - only possible with digital camera.

INTERESTED PHOTOGRAPHER - COURSE STUDENT ETC

You are interested in photography not just to record pictures of family, friends and places but because you want to learn technique and skills and understand the way cameras work to take interesting pictures. You may still take snaps but want to take your photography to another level.

Here digital may interest you but your unlikely to splash out £2000+ on a digital SLR. Best choice is an SLR with manual capabilities as well as autofocus so you can learn the skills and understand what goes into making a pictures work - such as aperture, shutter speed, depth-of-field, macro, filters, soft-focus, lighting, panning and then possible darkroom techniques on "wet-film".

You may still use a digital camera for snaps and candid shots but normally to take photographs you are prepared to carry around an SLR and some equipment to get the effect you are looking for.

WEB DESIGNER (HOBBYIST/SEMI-COMMERCIAL)

You are either shooting digital pics and loading them straight into your PC/Mac manipulating and loading onto your web site or are prepared to wait for the prints (or prints & CD) to come back from processing. Many sites that want immediacy go for digital pics as the quality required/allowable on a fast site don't require high resolution. The exception to this is a product shot that requires high quality and lighting to get the best possible image - probably taken professionally and onto slide film which is then scanned.

ASPIRING FREELANCER - SERIOUS AMATEUR - PROFESSIONAL

The answer (if the choice is 35mm or digital and not medium format) is SLR. However there is an increasing choice of digital SLR's on the market from Canon (D30, D60, D1, D1s), Nikon (D1x) and Sigma although costs are currently between £1300 and £5000. Quality on digital is high enough now for most applications - except fashion with most pro's at sporting events and reportage carrying at least one digital SLR camera. Here the benefit is that by starting with a traditional SLR and building up a selection of lenses and filters these can be shared between the traditional and digital bodies - allowing a transition to digital when the time is right.

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Questions to ask yourself when deciding.

1) Do I want to explore the photographic techniques ?
2) Would I ever want to take pictures for more then just looking at ?
3) Might I go digital SLR in the future - just waiting for the "right" technology?
4) Do I only want a camera I can put in my coat/handbag/trouser pocket ?
5) If I went digital do I have a computer, printer to get out the best pictures onto screen/paper ?
6) Do I need to have my pictures now or could I wait 24 hours ?
7) Do I want to be in control of just my picture or of my camera as well ?

Remember that the choice between digital and SLR is about what you want - for 99% of the population the quality from the average digital camera will produce 7x5" prints as well as standard print film.

You'll take better end results by understanding how to take great pictures (lighting, composition, subject choices) than just spending £1000's of pounds on expensive SLR kit and still keep randomly snapping.

If digital inspires you to take more pictures and improve - buy one. If the control and expandablility of SLR gives you an interest spend the money. But don't get too hung up on what to buy now and if it means you made a "mistake". Go and take some pictures and enjoy yourself !