Digital Cameras : How many megapixels is too much?

Hello,
I work in a camera store and answer this question every day. The first thing you have to consider when buying a camera is what are you going to do with it? Then what are you willing to carry? Finally how much can you spend?
What are you doing with it?
Sounds like an easy question doesn't it. But "Just family pictures" doesn't really cover it. What size of prints are you going to ever possibly make? Remember this there are three important parts of yourcamera. The resolution is only a third or even a quarter of the story, what is the size of the actual sensor and what kind of lens does it have? First off there are basically two sizes of sensors in digital cameras, a 1/4 and a 2/3. these numbers are in relation to a 35mm film frame. Most "point and shoot" digitals cams have the 1/4 size sensor, these cameras the megapixel and lens are very important on. Example of these cameras would be Nikons Coolpix line, Canons Powershots and Olympus's Camedias. On these small pocket size cameras you must get a good quality lens and for that regemend staying with a brand of camera that has traditionally made still cameras, the ones I mentioned above are in my opinion the better three, but Minolta, Pentax and Leica make fine cameras as well. Again I cannot stress this enough, the lens is the MOST important part of any camera, it is the lens that actually "takes" the picture, everything else is there to "record" it.
What are you willing to carry?
Now your average digitalsingle lens reflex(DSLR) camera has the bigger 2/3 size chip in it. These cameras almost always have bigger physical lenses (which makes for better pictures too) and usually they are interchangable. The big drawback to DSLRs is they are BIG! Many people simply don't want to carry a DSLR around most of the time, if you just have to have a DSLR I suggest you get a point and shoot as well because, unless you are an avid amature or prosumer you'll get tired of ith big camera pretty quick. The upside of the DSLR is you can make bigger and better prints. In the store I work at we have a 24X36 inch print hanging shot with a 3 Megapixel point and shoot (This tells you what you can do with a $50K printer) and we have made 40X60 enlargements from a6 Megapixel DSLR!
Myself I have both types and usually if I am out goofing around or for family get togethers I use the small camera, If I am planning to make a good size enlargement (I shoot a group portrati of my wifes extended family each christmas as a gift to all) or I am working a paid assignment then I use the DSLR.
How much are you willing to spend?
Usually in photography and especially digital photography the old adage "You get what you pay for" is truth. My usual regemendation is to buy the best camera you can afford, with the best lens and resolution possible. After all younever know when that greatest shot of you life will happen, sometimes, especially in photography, it is better to be lucky than good. Of course good and lucky might win you some prizes!!