hey paladin,
Canons are great, and perfectly comparable to Nikons. For every nikon, there is a canon, and vice versa. Either one, you'll get great quality, and neither is better than the other. The only way to choose is to look at external factors:
1. Which camera feels better in your hands? Some cameras are larger, some smaller, some people like the different button formats and such. The thing is, if you don't have any experience, you really won't know. But again, once you start with a Nikon or Canon, it's very improbable that you'll ever switch since you'll get used to either one. Nikons especially since the layout of their cameras are very similar regardless of the model, such that Nikon users feel at home using any camera body. I think a bit moreso than Canon.
2. What do all your friends have? The more friends you have around you using the same brand camera, the better. You can swap lenses, borrow batteries, give each other tips and tricks, and so on. Three of my really good friends all have Nikons, and we share lenses and equipment all the time =)
3. Look at the different lenses for Canon vs. Nikon. Almost every Canon has the same lens as every Nikon and vice versa. But sometimes one lens may be a tad better in a certain focal point / lens type. I believe the nikon 105mm 1:1 macro f/2.8 is better than the canon's, but so slightly that it doesn't make a difference. Canon has a better lens the Nikon too, but they're such slight differences, it's hard to say. But if you're totally into macro, I'd go for Nikon. (sorry, I only know nikon).
There is one thing, some Nikon lenses are VERY hard to come by because sometimes when new lenses come out, Nikon doesn't keep up. Either a marketing ploy to drive prices higher and make things more "rare", or they're just too slow. A great example is the Nikkor 18-200mm VR II lens. It's one of the best lenses out there, totally versatile for walking around and shooting really anything. It has a huge range, and everyone wants it. Problem is, the wait is months! I believe Canon has a readily available one that's the same?
So there are a few things such as that which would sway you one way or another.
But in terms of quality of picture, both are great =)
