If you step into a store that sells Camcorders, there are very little difference bettween a fair few of them.
The JVC one refered to is excellent, it was £550 when i started work, and it came down to 199.99...
When i used to sell these things, i always said Panasonic and Sony, they seem to be the best, but you cant tell much difference between the other makes.
I always told people/customers to pic the Camcorder in the budget that feels right in the hand.
Ie, Budget of 250 or less will give you a clear choice of 8 or 9 camcorders in most stores. Get them in you hand and find out which one feels the most comfertable, then pick on just basic features such as bettery life.
I also think zooms should be ignored, digital zoom is a waste of time, and optical zoom is good, but the higher optical zoom cameras normally have smaller sensors, smaller sensors are usually prone to more noise which looks like a grainy effect.
USB2 is not really a waste of time, but you are better going for firewire, its called a few different things on a Camcorder, i think Sony call it the I-Link and other called it DV, but its a 4 Pin firewire connection.
On you budget, i would recommend these,
SONY DCR HC24
PANASONIC NVGS27B
They are £200 or just under, the Sony is probibaly the better one, optics are better, but they both have two different ergonomics, so hold them and decide.