I'm dying for a new camera. Can't decide?

Right now I have a panasonic lumix dmc-lz8 for about… I dunno 3-4 years. It's just a point and shoot and i can take pretty good pix with it but I'm dying for something to take more involved pictures. I want photography to be a bigger part of my letting out my creativity.

One of those cameras that people are like "okay, she took a good picture with the right type of camera. 'the big fancy photographer's camera'" NOT "she took that with that tiny thing? She got lucky." I want two cameras: my lumix to keep in my bag and take pictures with at the spur of the moment. AND a camera like the Nikon D3000.
My friend has one. God, when i used it, i fell in love. I dunno, i think that i just like that i can feel the lense snapping and taking the picture, you know?
And it's quick. Just flash *snap*. When i sue my dad's old sony, I die a little bit inside. It's this whole LONG *** process of flash flash flash WAIT picture processing… SNAP. Wait… You may now take more pictures. >:\
I might just buy the Nikon used cuz it's cheap. But i want a new one.so, should i buy an older camera that i like, or a new one like it and if so, which one?

Added (1). Professional looking pics isn't exactly the thing. It's the limitations to my point and shoot that's frustrating me. That is all.

Added (2). Gahhh! I didn't MEAN to buy a panasonic. The first was a freaking kodak (SUCKED. Was a gift from my dad for my 11th birthday.mom dropped it in puddle of water (good riddance) and my stepdad got me a panasonic to replace it because it was of equal value (approximately $100) and the quality, even tho it was a panasonic was much better. JEEZUS.

Before spending 500 whatever dollars on a DSLR, you should go to your local library and read some of the basic photography books they have - DSLRs don't guarantee "professional looking pictures… " A used D3000 w/ and 18-55 kit lens or Rebel XS w/ an 18-55 will cost you about $300 used, in good condition. Then add $30 for a spare battery, $30 for a couple class 10 SD cards

Http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-is-best-dslr.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...rtclk=sort

http://www.ebay.com/...6.c0.m1539

Okay, I have to mention this as apparently it's not automatic to everyone in the community. Remember to get a camera that comes with a lens!

Your old Panasonic LZ8 is actually more than a point and shoot camera… Because it has full manual controls (aperture and shutter priority).It also allows control over image parameters (contrast, sharpness, saturation, noise reduction and so on) and even offers white balance fine tuning.
Suppose you didn't know about that, did you?

If you don't even know how to use the manual controls on your LZ8, will you learn to use them on a dSLR? If not, then stick with a 'point and shoot'.

I have to agree with Petra - your Lumix DMC LZ8 is more sophisticated than you apparently realize. Look at this review: http://www.dpreview.com/...lz10#specs It allows you to shoot in Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual - just like the Nikon D3100.So before running out to spend money on a new camera it might be a good idea for you to actually learn to use the one you have. If you've had the LZ8 for almost 4 years and don't know about the features it has then I seriously doubt that you've ever actually read and studied the Owner's Manual.

When Nikon released the D3000 they committed a major blunder by not including Live View and Video capability. Since those two features were being demanded by consumers Nikon quickly dropped the D3000 and replaced it with the D3100 which has Live View and Video capability.

If you do decide to buy another camera, take time to actually read and study the Owner's Manual.