All I would say is that you should remember you're buying into a system. Canon and Nikon have by far the most extensive systems - variety of lenses, third party support, accessories, etc. Sony is building its brand quickly, but the system is still not nearly as extensive as Canon and Nikon, and there will be fewer third party options in comparison. That doesn't mean they're bad, as others have pointed out, the sensor-based stabilization is not something to gloss over.

If I were in your shoes, though, the decision would be very simple: Canon Rebel XS, 18-55mm IS kit lens, and the Canon 50mm F/1.8. The kit lens is a good lens, stabilized, and will give you the ability for wide angle portraits. The 50mm is one of the best lenses there is, at a price of merely ~$90. With its wide apertures, you can blur the background for professional-looking "glamour" photos but at a fraction of the price. Check out any of the several 50mm threads in the Viewfinder forum to see what I'm talking about.

That package should come in around $600, (see www.bhphotovideo.com or www.adorama.com ), which will leave you room to buy a memory car, tripod, camera bag, etc.