Please tell me some of the best digital camera's to buy?

Mostly I will be using the camera for family pictures, special times, vacations,etc. Also, I would like one pretty simple to use, and I cant buy the top dollar, so, mid range or lower prices please, but not the cheapest if it doesnt actually take nice pics. Thanks a lot:)

Thanks for the thoughtful info, All the answers have given me useful information. I now know a number of good cameras to choose from,and I wouldnt have thought about much handling the camera before buying OR about interchangable lenses. Thanks to all!

I recently purchased a Kodak Easy Share V530 and I LOVE IT. Its very very easy to use. Has a loading dock that you put it in to charge...when its in the dock you push one button and the pictures upload to your computer. Its light weight and easy to carry. Has 5 mega pixles. Plus it takes quick photos. Its very good at taking snap shots plus has other modes you can set it to for black and white or even special photo settings. Runs about $175 USD at Walmart.

i like the pentax line. it seems they have the only truly water/dirt resistent bodies.

Nikon D70 or D200

My friend, i have just purchased a samsung A7 digimax camera from e-bay, with 2 512 mb cards, for 拢149.99, and its absolutely brilliant, you get 7 and a half minutes movie from one card, and thats at 7 million pixels, the quality is outstanding for a mid priced range, still photos, you would get at least a couple of hundred if not more, and its easy to use, you see i'm not very smart upstairs when it comes to cameras, i think i dropped lucky.
Good luck

Canon has the best camera but it tends to be a bit complicate to use for beginners. So I suggest to look into Sony camera. The new one has big LCD screen (2.5" to 3") and very easy to understand menu. Lastly, you should go to the store and hold the camera in your hand to see how they feel before you buy them.

THREE TOP SLR DIGITALS
NIKON
CANON
FUJI

ALL HAVE GREAT FEATURES AND BENEFITS... THE NIKON D50 MIGHT BE A GOOD BUY NOW SINCE IT HAS BEEN SUCEEDED BY THE D200 AND NIKON IS MOVING OUT INVENTORY.
YOU DO WANT THE FLEXIBILITY OF INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES, WHICH WILL GIVE YOU CAMERA MORE VERSATILITY

GOOD LUCK

Nikon
Canon
Fuji
Sony