What is the best kind of digital SLR camera for a beginner? (good quality and easy to use)?

I would look at a Nikon or a Canon, but if you find another brand such as sony, tehn you could get one of their's. I say canon and nikon only because they have the best lineup of afforadable and not to say a ton lenes to go along with the camera. It not so how good the DSLR camera at tking pictures as it is how good the lens you are using. Good lenes are very imporant if you quailty results. I have a Canon, and it is the Digital Rebel XTi and it is very easy to use. It has a full automatic settin so you don't hhave fiddle around with the manual settings, but I would suggest only using the manual setting so you learn how to operate the camera.
Nikon makes a whole bunch of cameras, and I really can't speak from experince, but I have heard good things about the Nikon D40 and D50.

The best thing to do is to not worry about image quailty if you choose a canon or nikon but rather pick the camera that feels right to you. Both companies cameras excell in image quailty so you don't need to worry about bad pictures. The Digtial rebel is a little on the smaller side, so people with larger hands may not like it as much.You want a camera that is comtroable to hold.

Overall I think if you decide between a Nikon or Canon you will be extremely happy, I know I am. Go to a store and hold the cameras and see which one you like. If you order online buy the camera from bhphoto.com becasue they are a reliable site, not like many sites that offer cameras at cheap prices only for you to get used gray material.

Here are some helpful links:
www.dpreview.com
www.bhphoto.com

No contest as to the entry level SLR; The Nikon D40

I own many canon cameras, and they are easy to use. Lenses are great too. You might consider Nikon, I've heard it is good too. But once you stick one brand (Canon or Nikon), you will go with that for long because when you build up your lens set, it is not easy to switch to another brand; it will cost you much money.

I own many canon lenses, and I only need to upgrade/add canon camera body. All the lenses still fit the new camera body.

It's tough to go wrong with Nikon or Canon. I have a Canon 20D (my first digital SLR) and it's been a fantastic experience. You can go to the following link to read all the reviews on the internet for these cameras (without having to search for all the reviews yourself);

http://www.productcritic.com