Maybe it's because you set the aperture to 1.4. Most lens aren't the sharpest at the largest aperture.
Another factor could be because with a larger aperture, the depth of field is reduced so only a small portion of the photo is sharp which makes the overall picture seem unsharp.

Correct me if I'm wrong...

Try setting the aperture smaller and comparing.

Don't tell me you got poisoned by my 5D! XD

The 1000D should be good enough for a beginner. It depends on what your friend is looking for in a camera.

AA batteries are more convenient for traveling. When your batteries run out, you can always get them easily. You could always get extra rechargeable batteries and you can use them for your flash when you're not using the p&s. If you don't have a flash, getting the batteries first would be a good excuse.

---

Added on November 16, 2010, 12:08 amazrinarizz, where does your money come from? lol

This post has been edited by cctw: Nov 16 2010, 12:08 AM