I'm a huge fan of Specialized. I have always liked their bikes, then I worked in a shop that was an S dealer. I became even more impressed with their customer service. They back their product. Trek, Giant, Fisher, and Specialized all offer a lot of the price range. Right now you might still be able to find some 2004 models at a good price. Here's a few links to check out:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030...sp?model=10772
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...2cl60df.j27006
http://www.mtbr.com
Mtbr.com has a lot of product reviews written by people who own the product. If you haven't been there yet, it's worth a look. Shop around and have a good time. Ride every single bike you think you might be interested too. Every brand has a different idea about bike geometry. Keep us updated.