That's enough resolution to look good on a monitor. But stick with the low-end AstraCam. If you like digital photography, you can buy a better camera at next year's plunging prices. Apple has a well-deserved reputation for ease of use and reliability. Don't fret much about processor speed, sound card, video card, the modem, or a CD-ROM drive.
Any new machine sold today has plenty of each for most newcomers.
Focus on getting at least 64 megabytes of RAM and a 10-gigabyte hard drive. It's harder to recommend a specific model, because certain phones work only with certain wireless networks. Few casual users will find the wireless Web useful given the limited information available and its slow speed. Wireless E-mail has appeal, but it's awkward to read long notes and even worse to type on a phone's small keypad. In the end, choose the provider with the best voice coverage where you need it, then buy the phone that's easiest to use and afford.