Any digital camera from FujiFilm is dependable, but the "entry level" FinePix A200 balances performance with price most adroitly.
Its 2.0 effective megapixel CCD allows for great PC-based photo fun (emailing, posting online, archiving, etc) and respectable-quality hard copy prints (bearing in mind that to emulate film stock quality, professionals will go with at least a 5.0 megapixel camera).
Plus, it has a host of easy-to-use features designed to please the newcomer without busting the bank. Eventually, should you take a shining to a better, more robust, more expensive camera, the A200 will remain an effective and reliable back-up.