If you're thinking of taking night shots, I'd stay away from the Sony. All Sony camera CCD's suffer from very high noise at ISO 400+
There was a review of the Canon EOS-XTi (400D) vs. the Sony DSLR-A100 (Alpha), vs. the Nikon D80.
I went through a similar choice lately, and ended up purchasing a Canon EOS-XTi, and have been VERY happy with it since I purchased it. Did all the photography for the Royal Holloway University of London ISG Department student dinner with it the other night. the photos came out really well.
When I purchased it, I bought the kit, which is the XTi Body, with the 18-55mm kit lense. I wouldn't go anywhere near the Canon telephoto lens though. all lower-end Canon lenses suffer from image softening the closer you get to the edge of the photo. I'd recommend getting a Sigma or Tamron lens to go with it instead of a Canon. Got a Tamron 70-300mm lens myself. Lovely lens.
On the flip side however, the Nikon D80 just knocked out the Canon EOS-350D (EOS-XT) from the PC-Pro A-List. They reviewed the Sony D100 the other month and the 350D stuck as the better camera.
Try
DPreview for camera reviews, and
PC Pro for those two reviews I just mentioned. (The D80 review doesn't seem to have turned up on there yet, but it was on this months Magazine)
If you're the owner of an SLR Camera already, I'd recommend staying with whatever make you currently have, as the lenses may be compatible with the new camera (in the case of the Sony, its Konica Minolta).
Ultimately, go to the store, hold them, try them out. It's you're choice. Also consider the D80 though. Just remember that its only SD and not Compact Flash though.
If you have any questions on the D400/XTi then feel free to ask. PM or on here.