First time DSLR camera?

I'm getting my first DSLR for christmas and was wondering if anyone could give me insight on the Canon EOS 1100 D and the Nikon D3100, like how they perform and what one would be best for a first time buyer.

I really have my heart set on one of these two but any advice you could give from past experience would be great.

Normally first time slr camera users start with a Canon Rebel XTI or XSI

For a beginner, i recommend the canon eos 1100 d
for a pro, i recommend the canon t2i

Either of those two would make a great starter camera. Try each and get the one that you like best or can get the best deal on.

Nikon D3100 has higher max ISO, slightly less noise, Full HD vs HD video and 2 more AF points. It's the best for the price right now.

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

Flip a coin.

You will be much too busy figuring out how the camera works to worry about small differences in performance. Color fidelity and acuity shouldn't matter to beginners, who will have enough trouble just getting the exposure right.

If you need more convincing, go to a camera shop and ask for a hands-on demo. The location of the controls and the menu interface is different between the two, and more of a deal-breaker than any tech spec.

Perhaps the one choice you might want to make now is if you want the low-price kit lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm), or if you want to spend more on a superzoom (18-200mm) that offers the combined focal range in a single lens.