Taking any photos (Novice Photographer)

If you have any experience with a particular brand than that camera will be easier to use.  You may also want to see what you friends and relatives are using (a good way to share equipment in the future) when making that decision.  Next you will need to consider which lenses you will need.  Most kits come with a cheap 18-55mm lens that is ok for casual use, but anything more will leave you wondering why you spent so much on a nice camera body and can’t get the photos you want.  

Megapixel count has become insignificant in the past few years unless you are dealing with extreme detail or enlarging to enormous dimensions.  The most you will need for general use is ~6-8MP.  As all cameras are beyond this, the point is irrelevant.  The most important detail is knowing your equipment and its limitations.  This is when you will get great results.