Digital Camera 3.2MP vs 5MP any real advantage?

[Ratpack]

Just want to pick the brains of the digital camera gurus out here. Is 5megapixals THAT much better then 3.2? I am just the average photographer and usually only print up to 8x10's. How high can I go with 3.2?

 

[Zurg]

From:
http://allearsnet.com/btp/digital.htm

A little real world advice here. Mega Pixels are a selling feature. 5 has to be better than 3 right? Far be it from Zurg to suggest that bigger isn't always better, but you should consider what you picture taking needs are. Say, like Zurg, you have a shoe fetish and take pictures of funky feet for your web page.

For most web stuff, 640 x 480 is fine. Say you are Mrs. Zurg and like to hang a lot of 8 by 10 blow ups of the little Buzzes running around on vacation. You will need enough pixels to make a nice big print. How many Pixels? Here is an estimate of the minimums to get a good print I got from Ofoto (Kodak):

Print Size ---- Minimum (Pixels) Needed --- Mega Pixels
4x6 ------------------ 640x480 ----------------- .3
5x7 ------------------ 1024x768 ---------------- .8
8x10 -----------------1536x1024 ---------------1.6
11x14 --------------- 1600x1200 -------------- 1.9

http://www.ofoto.com/PrintsOverview.jsp?&c=l_store_prints

 

[Ratpack]

Thanks Zurg, I guess 3.2 would do me just fine since that is what I have.