Reply #61: The important factor in deciding between the two is your fingers.

[DarkTirade]

If they're fairly strong and/or not very skinny, go for cello. If they're not that strong and/or fairly thin, go for violin.

As a child it doesn't make much of a difference because you grow into it and get used to it enough to compensate for either way. I've got fat fingers and I can play violin just fine... but that's because I did it from when I was a little kid until I grew up and developed said fat fingers. :P So I was able to compensate as it went along. But starting as an adult, it's best to just play to your strengths. (no pun intended.)