Why don't you try a GIS software like ESRI's ArcGIS? You can categories the countries based on characteristics and change colors of the countries based upon those characteristics easily. Much easier than changing every little country one by one.

Um... because it's priced at $1,500?

And which projection would you like it in? (shhh...I have access to a $10,000+ ArcGIS site license)

Stephen, the CIA World Fact Book (googlable) has some maps in both JPEG and PDF format. I don't know if they'd work for you, but they're easy to find, and any excuse to go to the CIA Web site is a good one, no?

I don't how big of one you need, but here are some that I have used before.

As for a program, I have used this open source one. I don't remember for sure, but I think your a Mac user so...

The price is right!

Ever tried the Library of Congress site at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/?

National Geographic's world map does not use a Mercator projection. Since I've been making maps for the military for 20 years, give me a call if the other suggestions don't work out.

If what you want is something quick and dirty you can stick into PSP and use the paint bucket tool, search for outline maps, preferably in gif, bmp, or tiff format, so you won't have to deal with nasty anti-aliasing and jpg compression artifacts. Childrens "coloring" maps are ideal for this.

I've found one that's clean, although it may be too small for your needs...

I've heard good things about this:
http://www.profantasy.com/Products/cc2.asp
though it's more for making up a new world than describing this one.

But you can combine it with their WWII atlas for some maps to start editing:
http://www.profantasy.com/products/ww2ia.asp

(disclaimer: haven't used them myself, they're just on my wish list)

Steve, there is a good map here:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/world_2000.jpg

This isn't software, but here are some crisp black and white non-Mercator maps you can start with. The Peters Projection is pretty good IMO.

http://odt.org/