Personally I think at this price level just about any miniDV camera you can find is going to be comparable in terms of features and quality. Not that I have anything against being on a budget, but you kinda have to take what you can get 🙂 That said, they're not bad little cameras at all.
I would stick with the big brands, like Canon, JVC, Sony. You might also check into the cost of accessories for your camera (like extra batteries). Some are more expensive than others (or not readily available in the stores you shop at). Also keep in mind that once you've bought into a brand, it MAY make it easier to keep to that brand (you may be able to share batteries, chargers, etc.)