Nikon/Canon auto focus lens

The camera i wanted from the start was the Nikon D3100, and i still really want it. But i found out that the 50mm f/1.8 won't autofocus on the camera. Is this a big deal? I guess i can learn to manually focus but this is my first dslr so i'm not sure. The 50mm f/1.4 is out of my budget; and i'm not really interested in the 35mm… Would it be a better choice to get the 55-200mm zoom lens? Ill probably take pictures of mostly people.

ALSO, since this is an issue, should i buy a canon camera instead?

The Japaneses use the same word for crisis as they do for opportunity.

Photographers use the same word for "being forced to learn something" as they do for "exciting new idea."

Learning something will never be a bad idea or a problem. Having to manually focus will teach you about what focus can do to a picture. It forces you to take control over your pictures.

I suggest you get the 50 1.8. You can then decide on whether you need wide or long later.

The world is getting to be too push-button

For decades we manually focused our lenses with no problems

The D3100 is the most advanced of the entry level cameras, auto-focusing in the video mode, something a Canon can't do.

Nikkor AF-S lenses are the fastest auto-focus lenses at this time, faster than even Canon USM lenses

You issue does not have to do with Nikon, but with the older AF lenses that are still available. In a few years all the Nikon AF lenses will have been updated to AF-S and this will NOT be an issue.

If you do want to buy the 50 mm f/1.8, using the electronic rangefinder is something you need to know how to do in any case.

Take control of the camera