What's a good camera for someone who wants to take good, clear pictures, but doesn't want to spend too much?

The birthday's coming up and I want a real camera! Not a little digital, average camera but something a bit more high tech and fancier. I want to be able to take good-looking pictures with out having to spend $3000 on a big *** canon. I was looking at the nikon cool pix p90 or something of that sort. I want a camera that makes it look like I'm an average teen photographer, but that's not too difficult to work & not too expensive ahh