Best mountain bike under $1500?

Don't need full suspension - in fact I'd prefer a hardtail. Also, I kinda like Shimano's shifters better than SRAM's.

Thanks for the added questions...I ride a steel road bike now and do 50-75 mile rides; I've got a steel fixed-gear for rides under 20miles or in town. I don't think I'll race, and I'm in no way interested in "getting air" - at least not on purpose!

I guess I'm okay with full-sus, but I like the "planted" feel of a hardtail.

Are you sure you don't need full suspension. at $1500 you can get a nice Full Susp ride. ( I kept my Kona hard tail and have not ridden it since I got y Full susp bike.)
I ride Cross Country in TX. In other words not huge downhills etc...and I went to Full susp last yr - WOW what a difference it made....in less fatique....and even made me quicker in the longer than 15 minute rides.
And what Bike are you riding now?
And what kind of riding & how often?
Are you racing or do you want to?

ADDED INFO -
I too ride a steel road bike (and my Kona hard tail is steel too) The Haro Sonix I have is the only aluminum bike i own & love it.
If you are not racing - don't spend over $1000 on a hard tail-it;s just a waste for non racing.
But don't spend under that on any full susp bike (or at least it's list price)

A couple Fulls to consider - http://www.konaworld.com/08_four_w.htm - $1099
http://www.harobikes.com/mtb/bikes/sonix... -$1700 new (but I found one used for $600 and have seen close outs for aroud $1000 on last yrs models too.)
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_b... - $1475

A couple hard tails to consider.
http://www.konaworld.com/08_caldera_w.ht... - $900
http://www.harobikes.com/mtb/bikes/fligh... - $895
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/moto... ( 21 lbs & if you have a cyclespectrum in your city you can ride it first and buy it there too- i think) $1399
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_b... --It's steel & $1300 list price !

All those have Shimano shifters I believe.
And I have read good things about www.ibexbikes.com & www.performancebike.com but have no personal experience with bikes from either place. They both have several HT and fulls under your price range.

My vote - look for a used or closeout Haro Sonix for just under $1000. - It pedals like a hardtail but floats over rough stuff (roots & rocks) like a butterfly. I'm a little biased - that's what I ride.

My personal preference would be a Giant XTc or a Specialized Stumpjumper. All the major manufactures do a good job on hard-tails, However if you can take a Specialized FRS or a Giant with the Maestro susp. for a ride you'll probably pass on the hard-tails. These two suspension designs stay "planted" and hooked up on some of the gnarliest trails.

giant STP2