What kind of performance does the Nikon D3100 have?

I'm looking to buy a high quality performance camera (in the $300- $600 range) and I'm looking at the Nikon D3100. I have noticed that other Nikon camera's have bad photo quality. I'm wondering what kind of quality this camera has.

What Nikon cameras have bad photo quality? Nikon and Canon are the world leaders in consumer cameras. The D3100 is a DSLR, which the photo quality is mostly up to the skill and knowledge of the person using the camera. For you, the photos will probably be terrible.

You won't get a 3100 for that money. If you think Nikon cameras make bad photos you've been looking at the wrong stuff. As already said, 95% of any good photo is photographer skill, the rest is the camera.

The Nikon D3100 is an excellent camera if you are familiar with manual mode settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance etc.) If you are not familiar with photography you would be better off with a point and shoot camera. Also, regarding DSLR cameras, half the battle is in the post processing. I have had my D3100 for 3 months. Click the link below to see photos I have taken.
Side note: Nikon D3100 is available for 540.00 on amazon.

I have a Nikon D3000 and the quality is excellent.

Don't compare Nikon point-and-shoot cameras to their dSLRs. They are worlds apart. The D3100 is supposed to be the lowest spec'd dSLR in the current model lineup but it will blow any point-and-shoot camera away in terms of picture quality. That is only possible however if the photographer knows exactly what he is doing.

You should buy nikon d3100
The D3100 is an entry level digital-SLR camera equipped with a new DX-format CMOS image sensor with an effective pixel count of 14.2-million pixels and the new image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, both
developed by Nikon, that enables the capture of high-definition images with superior image quality.

Notable Features:-
Compact and lightweight - Easy operation and take-anywhere portability

Continuous 3 fps shooting - Catch the decisive moment

Eye-Fi support - Transfer photos and movies wirelessly

New shutter mechanism - Quiet shooting, even with Live View

11-point AF system - Quick, accurate autofocus ready for the decisive moment