Which is better, 14.2mp DSLR or 18mp P&S?

Its kind of throwing me off. I'm kind of confused.hha. I want to get a Nikon d3100, but the mp is low, and i also seen a 18mp point and shoot. I don't know which one will have better pictures?!

There's a lot more to the overall quality of a camera and its picture quality than the megapixel count. Comparing a DSLR to a point and shoot is kind of silly as they have different features. Go to one of the good digicam web sites like dpreview.com or steves-digicams.com and read the reviews of the cameras you're interested in.

The DSLR will be better (in the right hands). But if you can't take photos it won't matter which you choose.

The point and shoot will have a smaller sensor. And the optics will be inferior to the SLR. Although there's nothing wrong with getting a point and shoot.

You need to read this: The Megapixel Myth: http://www.kenrockwell.com/...mpmyth.htm - it's pretty old now, but essentially still valid.

Example,
14.2mp DSLR
http://www.dpreview.com/...nya550a500
18mp P&S
http://www.dpreview.com/...0_DSC-WX50

for sharper clear image jpg/ raw, you want dSLR
for larger images jpg quality, P&S may be ok,

Nikon d3100,
http://www.nikonusa.com/...D3100.html

the single lens reflex is key, along with lenses, speed vs size, quality vs casual,
.

MPs only matter for the overall size of photo that will be produced. That can mean more detail, due to more pixels making up the picture (think of the old standard definition TVs vs. The new HD ones), but that isn't the only thing that determines picture quality in a photo. The sensor and the lens are also big factors in the quality of the photo. This is where a DSLR overcomes any lack of MPs against a P&S. I guarantee if someone knows how to use the DSLR, it will far out perform the P&S.