Bob,
No real disagreement with other posters, but before you purchase, do an electronic search at Buy.com or equivalent to check all available prices.. and go to your local Barnes & Noble or equivalent.. and look in mag section, electronics review type mags abound..
I think you'll find:
1) 1, 2, & 3+ megapixel type cameras for sale. You can buy a wide variety of cameras. Go to Best buy or l similar though to handle them.
2) If you're just going to do simple electronic file sharing stuff, you don't need to spend money on 3 megapixel type cameras. If you're going to make big blow-ups or take to lab for big prints, go for it.
3) You'll find that you rarely need the high resolution settings unless you're going to make big prints. On computers, the medium or low res settings work just fine for 99% of stuff.
With 30 Meg memory card I can get around 200 pics at medium res and ~ 60 at hi res.
4) Watch out for hot-rod mentality on camera feature sets. Go for 3x+ lenses, but unless you were previously into big-time 35 mm SLR photography, and had a bag full of lenses and filters, many of the features will likely never be used. Almost all dig cameras have same basic features. On the other hand if you are going to really get into it, max out!
5) Make sure camera feels really comfortable in your hands. You may be able to slip it into a pocket, but can you handle it for hours? Some are too small to hold for long times, or buttons a little clumsy. remeber you have to hold still.
6) Given similar features, many folks buy camera with simplest interface and software being provided.
7) Get 30 +Meg memory card, and extra set of rechargeable batteries. Also, most camera to computer interfaces are slow, so get a memory card "reader" for $40, you'll be able to access memory card very quickly, like its a floppy disk drive.
Happy shots!
p.s. I've got a Kodak