$200 in 2000 equates to $300 now; $300 is $450 now. I think you probably can get such a bike, but it wouldn't be very good.
Those inexpensive suspension forks didn't age well. I have a cheap bike I'm converting to a commuter and I'm waiting on a rigid fork.
It's a bit of a conundrum telling a newbie what to buy. If you think you will enjoy riding, $1000 is nothing. Although I have put together some $750 hybrids that I really like. Rigid fork though