What are some good cameras to get for a beginner DSLR?

I currently shoot my (borderline garbage quality) pictures with a 3 year old, 8 megapixel, 5x optical-4x digital zoom Olympus FE-310. I'm looking to step up my game considerably with a purchase in the realm of an entry-level DSLR. I'm thinking I will most likely go with a Nikon, because my school uses them and the majority of my friends who have cameras have them, which gives me a leg up as far as learning the ins and outs of my camera. I've been looking specifically at the Nikon D3100 - it's in my preferred price range (less than $1, 000) new, and is very new and gets good reviews. I also like the live view feature for capture from an LCD (point and shoot habits die hard, I suppose!). Does anybody have any insight as to what some good entry-level (preferably as inexpensive as quality will allow) DSLRs?

Added (1). In regards to the 'borderline garbage quality', my photos seem to be grainy and/or washed out; also, its focus is blindly hit-and-miss, even when it's in the movement/action mode - between four and six of my shots in the supposedly 'stabilizing' mode end up at least somewhat blurry. I'm looking for something that will give me crisp, defined pictures with realistic color representation and the ability to take more advanced shots.

Well, the four nikon DSLRs are the Nikon D3000, D5000, D3100, and D5100

if you don't want to spend all of that $1000, the D3100 is your best bet. I do advise you to learn to use the viewfinder, its simply… Better, in pretty much every way.

really, you should go and see what you like. You may find that a canon DSLR fits in your hand better. Here are the Canon DSLR's for under $1000

Xs, T3, T1i, T2i, T3i

Your description: borderline garbage quality concerns me. Have taken photo's using the maximum pixel quality? Many people use the setting that yields the most pictures on the memory card. This is a mistake. You need to set for the minimum number of pictures on the memory card installed in the camera at the time. I have an Olympus, and a Fuji and a Pentax that are 5 years old or older. And I have made sharp as a tack 11x14's from all of them! So what I'm saying if you buy a current camera and do not set it for maximum or fine pixel setting the quality is still going to be garbage!

In fact, the way I buy a camera is: I shoot the first day of ownership and have a 11x14 print ($4.00) made to check for quality. If the results are bad the camera is returned, original box, instructions, and receipt! If the results are excellent-I keep the camera!

For good DSLR's to start off with check out the Canon Rebel series of which there are 3 models.

Thoughts? All cameras have the ability to take decent shots consistently. Picture quality depends on the user. If you use LiveView with a dSLR, you will suffer from shutter lag just like when you use point-and-shoot cameras. You will miss the moment again and again like before. All dSLRs are basically the same. If you know how to use one, you can use them all. To be able to get the best out of a dSLR, you should know the basic principles of photography. DSLRs aren't a game, and so is photography.

Borderline garbage quality seems like shooting in low light. A common mistake with newbies. Take note that low light to you is total darkness to the camera. The ability to correctly asses light and set the camera to capture that light tells what kind of a photographer you really are.