I really need your guys' help picking a camera

Okay so I'm new to photography, but I really want to take some pictures with a awesome camera with amazing quality. I've been looking up cameras and i've been finding some nice ones, but i just can't seem to get one i really want. I found the Nikon D3000, and i really want it, or the Nikon D40 looks nice too.
So, what i'm trying to ask is what camera do you use?
Does it have good quality?
Would you recommend it to me?
How much was it? Is it easy to use?
I know alot of questions but i really need to find one that is good. Thank you in advance!
Oh and i have a budget of like $500 at most, looking for about $200-$300, though.

I do not have the best choice in cameras, but I must let you know that you should not pick Samsung, no matter what you do.

You are very worried about your budget - I hope you're aware of all the other costs that come with such a camera.

Even if/when you DO find a DSLR plus lens in your price range, there will always be way more expenses ahead.

You'll want and/or need a few other things such as tripod, filters, a bag, sensor cleaning gear, a second battery, memory cards, perhaps a remote shutter release etc.

That's just the small stuff - I can guarantee you that you'll also want more lenses. You'll probably buy cheap ones at first, then regret that, then start saving for the good quality ones, instead.
You'll also want a decent flash some day.

See how that list just goes on and on?
Owning a DSLR isn't cheap - at least not until you have built up a nice stash of gear. When you look at an advertised kit price, you do NOT see all the other gear that need/want with it.

Consider buying a bridge camera and learning all you can with IT, while saving up for a DSLR in the future.
Just some food for thought… I'm not trying to talk you out of this, just trying to be helpful in case you haven't thought about all this yet.

Both are good really the d3000 is sort of the newer version of the d40 plus it has more megapixels which won't make much difference unless you plan on printing huge. If your looking for $200-300 than i think you can get a d40 for that much since it was discontinued.