Do you have a budget in mind? I just picked up a Felt Q720 as a first "real" mountain bike. i have a rigid Raleigh and a rigid Trek before but this was the first bike with suspension, disc brakes, etc. I've only gotten to take it off road once yet but I'm really liking it so far.
high points:
•even with sales tax, new helmet, and gloves it was under $1,000 at the LBS
•Hayes Sole hydraulic disc brakes
•Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur
•RockShox Dart2 fork
•eyeleted rims
•6061 aluminium frame
•Truvativ ISO-Flow Crank