Actually, assuming that your art is on paper, I will have to recommend that you get a scanner. Photographs hardly ever bring good presentation, particularly without a lot of color value editing.
Check this out: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838111121
That brings you to the Canoscan LiDE 25. On Newegg it's currently marked down to $50, and is probably the best you will find for the least amount of money. My friend has one, and he's had positive things to say about it. Now myself, I've got a LiDE 60 ($70), but Newegg doesn't sell it any more. It works just fine after nearly 2 years of abuse, though I don't know enough to compare the two or any other product. I do not know if there are Vista drivers.
This one is a little more expensive, but it works on Vista: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838111023
Now if you want to do your own looking around, what you want is a USB flatbed scanner. Most fit 8.5x11" paper, and scanning resolution doesn't matter too much -- print size is typically 300 dpi (or 600 for humongous prints or super high quality). I always scan at print resolution and shrink, because it's typically much nicer of a result.
If you can not purchase a scanner, keep your hands stable (tripod?) and keep the art as well-lit as possible. Be prepared for a lot of retouching in your program of choice (I use GIMP)