Canon Rebel T3 or Nikon D3100?

So i'm going to purchase my first camera and i don't know squat. I have been asking around and have narrowed down my choices to these last two.

Canon Rebel T3

http://www.amazon.com/...004J3Y9U6/

Nikon D3100

http://www.amazon.com/...003ZYF3LO/

So which is better? I know the Nikon has 14.2 MP while the Canon only has 12.2MP, but i also know that megapixels isn't everything. Also should i buy the body only?

For example amazon is also selling the canon rebel T3 Body only which is around $420 should i invest on a better lense?

Also i've been looking at a Canon T3i which is around 2 years old since it came out in 2009,. But would dat be a better choice?

Lastly i will be using this camera for beginning photography. I'm taking a photography class an i'm a total beginner that is the reason i don't want to invest alot on a camera.

I have the D3100 and I love it. I bought the body only then bought my own lens, it's a Tamron A14 18-200mm. :3

Basically both are fine cameras, however one has a better performing sensor in low light conditions.

Here is how their sensors perform.

http://www.dxomark.com/...nd2)/Canon

You will have to visit a camera store and hold both of them in your hands and see which on 'feels' best to you. The D3100 does have an in camera guide to help you understand what each feature is and how to use it.

On pixels which seems to be an issue with you.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/...mpmyth.htm

So, you can forget the pixel count when you make your final choice.

I have read many good reviews about Nikon. I'm a canon user and I love it so, I definitely go for canon. However, why don't you try for some good compact cameras. They are easy to use especially for beginners and upgrade later when you get used the techniques of photography.

Nikon D3100 is the best

D3100 has a higher max ISO, less noise, better AF in video, manual controls in video and a larger LCD screen. That's it, but it's the best beginner model out now!

The T3i is not 2 years old… It's hardly even 6 months old. The previous model is T2i and then you have the T1i, which is what you were looking at - skip it, it's one of Canon's noisiest models out there at high ISO.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/which-dslr-to-buy/