Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Hardwood Instalation

The house I bought a year ago has pretty dated carpet throughout. I'd like to upgrade to hardwood flooring (birch). I've researched the available products and am sure I'll be going with "real" hardwood. I've found some 'how-to' references, and it does look pretty straightforward, but should I risk it myself or go the extra and have it professionally installed. It's a lot of money just for the material. I'd like to save where I can but……any advise.

I installed my own prefinished staple-down 3/4" solid oak. It was a lot of hard work, but not technically challenging. And the result was great. I went with a local retailer who held classes in how to do it, and rented all the required equipment. Make sure your subfloor is suitable (i.e., a minimum of 3/4" OSB or plywood -- not particle board). Also make sure your subfloor is sufficiently flat. It would have gone a lot faster if I had had a helper, but I didn't.

Get the book- Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding and Finishing, by Don Bollinger. It gives you everything but experience.
Then decide whether you want prefinished or unfinished flooring. If you're a perfectionist, go with unfinished and sand/finish it yourself (or contract it out). Prefinished had a great finish and is usually guaranteed for about 25 years but you have to live with a little bit of overwood at all the end joints and the seams between the slats are not sealed. The overwood is fairly slight but, if you're a perfectionist ...
I've just done one room with prefinished red oak and I plan to do the next with unfinished, to see which I like the best. This is my first time to lay flooring ... it's not that big of a deal, but it'll definitely give you a workout.