Well Wayne now that you have all the facts from everyone who knows everything <G> Let me add 2c more.

1) Make sure the camera has a flash.
2) I prefer a camera that uses rechargable batteries. (buy a back-up set)
3) Minimum resolution 1280 x 960
4) Autofocus is a must.
5) Get a camera that does macro close-ups. (I assume you will be taking pictures of chips?)

Now about the floppy vs memory stick debate. Floppies are just about free. You can get them on sale with a rebate. If you are traveling, you need a laptop to download images to a computer, or a second memory. So if you don't take over 100 pictures on a weekend, or trip, you can take either and have no problems.

Here's why I was sold on the mavica (even though I bought one that's 640 x 480, which is usable, but not as good as most of the new cameras on the market) I go to races for the weekend, and media is cheap! With memory, you will come back to the computer, then store the images on the hard drive, and for archives, move them over to floppies or tape or ??? BUT with the Mavica, I already have them on disk, so I don't have to do all that transfering back and forth.

I'd buy another Mavica, but they do run a little more than a simple camera using memory that has equal picture quality. My goal is to take video clips someday, so that makes a difference. For an average (or should I say "normal"?) person, a basic camera that will do the job you want, with the flash and good quality, can end up costing half of some of the cameras with bells and whistles which you may never need.

The image below is taken on a Mavica 7, old model, 640 x 480. You can see what even a minimal level of resolution can do. Not bad?

Whatever you get will be twice as good!