I have an older Mavica 7 (which is now the 72) image is 640 x 480 and the lowest your want. Most cameras like the Mavica 91 are 1280 x 960, or better, which is quite fine for most people. Even the pictures from my camera are fine for the web and print well.

Floppy disks are almost free if you watch the rebates at the office supply stores. You can carry a pocket full of disks and you have your archive copy, without playing with expensive and non-standardized flash memory cards.

ALL Mavicas are not the same. Some do video clips, some don't. (video clips are minimal but usable for the web, get a camera for video) Some have 300x zooms, some have less.

No matter what you decide for a camera, here are a few things that will make you happy in the long run. In other words, must have!

1) Built in flash
2) Autofocus
3) Macro and telephoto
4) Spare battery

The picture below is Commercial Hotel, Elko 640 x 480 image, which I edited to match my old computer, It's a little on the light side, but it should give you an idea. Go for 1.2 Megapixel minimum and you'll be very happy.

About that $400 part, that might be hard. $500 and you might find something.

Next camera I buy will be another Sony in the Mavica line. Easy to use and I favor floppies over memory sticks. When I'm gone for a three day weekend camping or on vacation, I don't want to carry a computer along as well, so I can "save" my pictures.