LarryC:

These digitals are extremely complicated, and instruction manuals are usually unclear, multi-hundred page-confusing tomes, a far cry from the functional simplicity of, say, a Nikon F-3.  Best wishes and good luck in your search.

So true. We had a Nikon CoolPix 990 which was a marvelous and simple camera that took excellent pix. We "moved up" to a Nikon D-50. The picture quality (as taken by us) went up a tiny bit, but the complexity multiplied by 1000 fold. There must be 18,000 features, functions, options, settings, menus, preferences, buttons, doo-dads, arrows, circles, switches, rotators, wheels, dials and other software gizmos on this camera. We have had the thing lock itself into weird modes by accidentally doing something in the computer menu and then been unable to figure out how to cancel it for weeks at a time. (Nope - RESET doesn't fix it!)

If you are really dedicated to photography, and will be using the camera daily, and will memorize thousands of settings and such, this is a fine instrument. If you are going to pick it up once a month to snap some shots of the kids birthday party, you may do better looking for something simpler. 

Most Nikons have a two button 'simple mode reset' so no matter how much you've futzed around with it, you can get back to shooting in a couple clicks.

Do spend some time with the manual and a real photographer who can help acquaint you with the myriad features and which ones you could best use to improve your images. You don't have to understand it all, just the parts that apply to you. (kind of like stereos). 

http://www.dpreview.com/

This  was a great suggestion by a previous poster and I highly second it.  DPC is a wealth of information - although sometimes prone to the Nikon/Canon debate.

I have Nikon/Nikkor gear and am very happy with it.  The main reason I went DSLR was the familiarity with looking through the lens as was customary on my film Nikons.  My choice of Nikon was pretty much made as my stable of Nikkor lenses was easily useable on my new digital body.  The D40 is too elementary for my needs, thus I would promote at least a used D70 or newer D70s.  The D80's are fine as are the D200's, but that is likely overkill for your particular needs.  Lenses are the most critical part of a D/SLR system thus my concentration would be on those and then match whatever body would give me the minimum requirements for those lenses.  Thus my move more towards the D70/D70s range.  Not sure what your overall budget is, just please consider that for the next 2-3 years, birthday's, anniversaries, and holiday gifts will likely include gear. (Bodies, lenses, tripods, speedlights, bags, etc.).  A wonderful interest and DPC is a great place to hang out to learn. 

Attached is a site I prefer over the aforementioned K Rockwell site, that has delivered for me excellant advice on Nikon equipment.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html

Best of luck in your search/decision.

Thanks for all the help and insight.  That's why I posted here, knowing I would get varied, and all good, opinions.  I am a Sony guy.  All our TVs and recent cameras (camcorders and point-and-shoots) are Sony, and I have never had any problems with them.  I know that Canon and Olympus make very good photo gear, but I have never been on their bandwagon (sorry, just me).  I spent my teenage years with a 35mm Fujica in hand, and as I stated before, I always dreamt of owning a Nikon.

I went ahead and got her the Nikon.  I picked up a D40 two lens kit (the camera and an AF-S DX 55-200 Nikkor zoom) for $550 (Nikon had a Mother's Day special on a camera/extra lens kit).  Believe it or not, Ritz just up the street from us had the best price.  Better than any mail order I found, and dealing with a storefront was a bit reassuring.  I have never dealt with them before, but they were pretty nice.  They even threw in a few classes for her, too.

My wife was actually speechless.  The girls and I were able to make her day a very special one, and she seemed to appreciate our efforts.  It reminded me of the Ron White joke ("Diamonds, that'll shut her up") since she is rarely at a loss for words.   I think she was also impressed with the fact that she was going to be able to learn how to use the camera from somewhere other than the owners manual.

BTW, I hope all the Moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I know my wife and my Mother did.

Thanks again - Chuck

I think you made a great choice.  We have a Nikon D80, well dtel has a Nikon D80 and he love it.  The pics in the thread "What a trip" in the General Questions section were taken with the D80.  Truly awesome camera!

I have no doubt the D40 will more than suit your wife's needs and the local storefront should be able to give her some good advice on using the camera.

Good choice! I especially applaud purchasing from a local dealer

HOVE makes a great series of Users Guides that will greatly expand your photographic horizons. I highly recommend them.