With my work in the desert, I've become a digicam junkie over the last 3-4 years. I buy one, use it here for a few months and resell it. The Algerians I work with get a great deal on a slightly used camera, and I get a new toy every few months.
Lately, I've been using pocket digicams with Image Stabilisation technology and it's good stuff. They're a little more expensive than those without it, but it all but eliminates jitter in the photo induced by the holder. Both Canon and Sony have done a good job with this technology, while the Casio's seem to be the least developed.
The Canons have a shorter focal length than the competition, which allows you to get in really close (10cm or so) to take good macro photos of small parts, nameplates, etc. Neither the 500 series Sony's nor the 600 series Casios have as short a focal length, so their macro modes are not as useful.