The disadvantages of using xD cards are that they're more expensive (though not excessively so, anymore) and are not as fast as some of the high-speed cards offered in the SD and CF flavours. If you're not doing high-speed shooting, you won't notice much of a difference while using the camera, though.
As far as initial thoughts on the first purchase... First off, I'd look at some "either/or"'s:
Do you want a small camera that you will carry with you often (with less features - a point'n'shoot), or a larger camera with more manual control and possibly changeable lenses (SLR or SLR-like - those big ones with available huge-zoom lenses and all the manual controls you could ask for.
Be aware that the smaller the camera, the smaller the sensor in it and the less light it can gather, so the noisier the picture will be in low light (think of noise as "digital grain"). The larger cameras will work better in low-light. And to a camera, low-light starts in the threshold of a comfortably-lit room with no sunlight. Smaller cameras also have weaker flashes and generally don't work with an external or slave flash, so you have to be closer to your subject.
The "standard" zoom on the point and shoots is about 3x from around a 35mm equivalent. This is roughly the same as taking 4 steps closer to your subject.
If you go SLR or SLR-like, you can get bigger zoom at the expense of portability. When I was in the business of selling cameras, the #1 complaint of these larger cameras by people buying the point and shoot types, was that they just didn't take their big camera with them because it was a pain to lug it around and wanted something smaller. In an SLR-like, look for something with "image stabilization," if possible. It will allow you to take steadier shots at high zoom with less motion-blur (the blur that happens as a result of the natural shake of the human body). It's not necessary but it helps out a lot.
If you're going to go true-SLR, you're going to spend a lot of money but it will be worth it if you want full manual control, stronger flash and better lenses. But they're bulky. You'd want to get a tripod with it, as well, if you're going to be doing any big-zoom work.
Think also of battery types: Lithium-Ion battery-packs or rechargeable AA's (Nickel-Metal Hydride, usually). Lithium Ions are lighter, usually last longer but are more expensive and harder to find if you're travelling. AA's can be found almost anywhere and in a pinch, disposable Lithium AAs can be used (I'd recommend against using Alkaline AAs, as they will only power the camera for 10-30 shots, depending).
To decide whether you want P&S or SLR, think of what type of shooting you do/want to do. If it's quick, whip-the-camera out and snap candid shots of friends and family, P&S. Leaning more towards posed or composed or scenic shots with the ability to change all aspects of the exposure? SLR. Want to travel light? P&S. Action shots that capture all the action in sharp focus? SLR. Don't want to spend an arm and a leg? P&S. Low-light shots of a band in a smokey, dimly lit venue? SLR.
SLR-"like" cameras, like the Fujifilm S5100/S5500 or Canon PowerShot S2 IS, will still usually give you more manual controls and more zoom than a compact camera but not as much as an SLR.
From my experience, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish with your camera, what style of photo you're after and what you're willing to carry with you that determines whether or not you'll bring your camera out of its bag.
Hope that helped
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As far as xD cards in printers, almost all the modern photo printers (that have card slots) will accept xD. HP Photosmart, Canon Pixma, Epson Stylus, Lexmark P-Series will all run with it. Most will have "PictBridge," which will let you just plug the camera into the printer and print directly from the camera.
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