' Nothing too simple ' - now that is an unusual request !

I guess as with stills cameras all vidoe cameras are pretty strightforward to use on a basic level but most modern stuff also has a bewildering array of man pleasing menus, widgets and doodads.

Have a look at the sticky in this section - that outlines some considerations.

There are lots of different types of camra about now. Manufacturers and shops are producing lots of models that record to a small hard drive ( like inside your pc) like the camera you mention.

Advantages of this format are no tpaes ( a selling point for some) with capacity for 6 ish hours on the drive.
Disadvantages, because you have no tape any stuff you want to keep must be stores on a PC, whereas many people like to be able to keep the tapes of things they film. DV tape cameras also record in a better way that facilitates editing.

For reasons of flexability and ease of editing people who get into editing video ( thats the really fiddly bit) do often prefer a tape based format. That would be my choice as a film maker, but it isnt my money.... and perhaps he will prefer the H drive camera because thay are precieived as more ' modern ' ???

If you think he is the type to really get into new pastimes a mic input is useful but hard to find - cam mics are good for casual use but if he gets keen he will soon want to start playing with mics to get great sound, but hard to find on budget cams.