There's a million different cameras with a million different features. As far as working with a Mac, it's really a non-issue. Just get a card reader. It's so much more convenient.
The best place to start your camera search is
www.dpreview.com They have a lot of reviews on tons of different cameras...everything from point 'n shoot to SLR and in between. My favorite right now is Panasonic's digital lineup. They have a very nice Leica lens. They also have an anti-shake feature that's very useful in taking zoomed shots and long exposure shots. I can take shots up to 1 second without a tripod. I got the FZ3 for only $300 and the pictures it takes is amazing. There's auto mode for amateurs yet there is enough manual control for when you want to get creative.
To keep this thread Boxster related, here's a pic I took with a 2 second exposure using a maglite to light up the wheel. Turned out pretty cool.
