A DSLR with a good lens will make wonders for someone
learning the trade.
Do not spend money on zooms yet, get a good portrait
lens as a starter.
However, are you suggesting this as a gift for someone starting
from nill, or someone looking at photography for a while?
If so, what do they plan on photographing?
If able, get a D300 with a 50 1.4D It will be a tough
setup, able to take a beating, but still deliver amaising
pictures. The beer pic on the beer thread was taken with
exactly that.
If they are looking into landscape, then a 35MM F2.
Sports? 85MM F1.8.
I know this is a bit more, but that setup will last 10 years
and still be relevant...