DSLR vs. Point and Shoot
The first thing to think about when purchasing any kind of camera is how you intend to use it.
Are you going to need to print larger than 11 x 14?
Most point and shoot cameras of decent quality can be enlarged to 11 x 14.
Are you professional or semi-professional?
A professional photographer would definitely have the need for an SLR.
What is your price range?
An SLR can cost two to three times the cost of a point and shoot camera, not to mention the need for additional accessories.
Do you need the use of different lenses?
A point and shoot camera has a fixed lens, an SLR can have multiple lenses.
What about the quality of the image?
An SLR will definitely have a better picture quality if you know how to use the camera functions. That is not to say a point and shoot will not have a decent image. An SLR will have a better one.
How much do you want to carry?
A point and shoot definitely has a size advantage over the SLR. With the SLR, you may want to carry additional accessories making it less portable than a point and shoot camera.
Are you going to take more than snapshots?
Snapshot type photos are served well with a point and shoot camera. The picture quality is good. The camera is small and portable making it easy to have it handy in unexpected situations.
Want versus need.
You may want an SLR camera because you are interested in the potential it brings. If you already have a point and shoot camera and are ready to try something more advanced, then an SLR might be the way to go. In most cases, people who own an SLR camera own more than one camera.