Very few cameras are not Vista compatible so the list would be rather long. If there is any doubt check the packaging and look for the Vista logo. Some older but still active models may not be Vista friendly and might require are firmware update or patch to work. These can be easily updated online.

I wish it was as simple as saying...”Get this one...it's perfect for beginners”...but I cant do that.
When starting out in the Digital era, it's best for you to look at what needs you have for your “camera to be”.
Do you want small and compact to fit in a pocket and take with you every where? Than a compact or slim line camera is for you and not a Advanced or D-SLR. Do you want to take sports and action photos and want the camera to have a quick response time and expandable? Than a compact would be too slow and frustrating and cannot be expanded to grow with you... so you'll need to look at a D-SLR.
If you have any SLR film experience it will translate over to the D-SLR cameras.

Setting a budget can be helpful....to an extent. High end Compact, Advanced and entry level D-SLR cameras are now only a few dollars away from each other. Making the choice more difficult for beginners. So deciding what type of photography you might want to do will help give you a direction of which camera type to look at.

Cameras need to feel right to You, in Your hand. Go to your nearest BestBuy and try a few at the demo counter. See which one is small or fast enough, easy to understand and feels right in your hand.
Keep in mind that “Point n Shoot” is a feature...not a type of camera. ALL cameras have a full auto mode. Be it a $99 compact to a $5000 Pro D-SLR....they ALL have a full auto mode making them a Point n Shoot.
Hope this helps and you find YOUR camera...digital photography is fun and the possibilities are endless.

Very few Compact Cameras have viewfinders. And what few do, the viewfinder is always at a slight offset from the lens position. It's more of a “Peephole”. Only a D-SLR will give true Through The Lens view finding. Here are two compacts with viewfinder.
The Canon Powershot A1000IS:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8967353&type=product&id=1217029963551

and the Sony DSC-W120:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8741409&type=product&id=1202648995455

Mini-DV is a small tape that stores Digital Video in Standard Definition format. Some are setup for HD-Dv and some are in the DV-CAM (Sony) and Pro series (Panasonic).
Mini-DV are generally 60 minuets in length, some camcorders have a LP mode that will get you 90mins of record time.