My advise for the begginer - get simple and easy to use camera.3 MP will be exellent to start. And this year 3MP camera will be $49.99 at Sears on BF day.
For the price of dinner you will get exellent starter camera - plain and easy to use. Normaly it cost around 200.
And with my personal experience. I use 2MP for few years and my pictures not worth then 5MP in 4x6. And mostly what I print it 4x6.
Do not make any good to spent 300 if you can get same fun and quality for 49.
So, Good luck and see you at Sears.
By the way, I am fron Akron, OH