Yes... some of the big things to look for in a digital camera if you're looking in the $100-$200 range...
-optical zoom... more is better. Digital zoom is pointless, since you can just zoom in on the computer when you've uploaded it.
-AA battery capability is nice, saves having you buy spare battery packs.
-brand name... can't go wrong with any of the "big 5/6/7"... canon, olympus, fuji, kodak, etc.
What you want depends on what you want out of a camera. Some allow you to add on additional lenses or telephoto options, some have the little "hotshoe" for an external flash, some have better quality sensors than others. An 8mp olympus is not the same as an 8mp canon. Not that the Olympus is crap, but the Canon is a little better.
You may also want something more compact, less bulk. But you'll sacrifice some optical zoom.
And how 'disposable' do you want the camera to be? If you lose it, is it a huge loss to you? I've got a nice $800+ digital SLR with extra lenses and external flash that I bought myself as a christmas gift a few years back (boxing day sale), but I've also got a little $90 point and shoot that I picked up from Walmart last winter... tossed in a larger memory card, pick up a pack of AA batteries, and you're set. It even records movies, which my DSLR can never do.