Canon Ixus 40/Finepix F455?

[batfastad]

Hi

I had a Nikon coolpix 4300 which was doing the job nicely until I lost it on holiday. Dammit.
Insurance money pending though hopefully...

So I was looking at a new purchase and I'm either looking at Canon Ixus 40 or the Finepix F455.

The Finepix has 5 megapixels but I've read that it's not so good at indoors shots.
The Canon's a bit more expensive and has only 4 megapixels (though my coolpix had only 4MP and that was fine).

I've heard that the Finepix F455 can be charged when it's connected using USB. Is that true?
How useful is that!! Would only have to take my laptop with me and no extra chargers and stuff.

Also I worry about transferring the data. The Finepix comes with a docking station - I hate docking stations. Always having to carry around not only a power adaptor but a docking station as well? Pah.
I'd like to know if you can just directly connect the cameras to the USB, and it pops up as universal mass storage as an extra drive letter.

I hate having to install proprietory software to get the pictures off.
Though I could just use a card reader, but it's better to have the option.

The Finepix uses xD cards, which seem to be a bit more expensive than the SD in the canon.

I'm looking at the Canon because it's a bit smaller in every dimension and 20g lighter.
But it loses out in the megapixel war.

Can anyone comment on the picture quality of these two cameras?

I was thinking of the Fuji finepix at first before I read another very recent thread pointing me to the Ixus 40.
I am now thinking the Canon makes sense as 4MP is fine for what I need, and it's the size that's a big factor for me.

Any suggestions?

My main questions are...
Do either of them charge through the USB?
Can you just plug the cameras in and it pops up as an external drive to get the photos off?

Thanks

Ben

[philm95]

Hey
Ive got an Ixus 40 and would highly recomend it....its so light and small, and super easy to use. One thing which i found good about it is that it takes barely a second to turn on, whereas my dads Ixus 430 takes ages.
1. It doesnt charge through the USB
2. It does appear as a drive on your computer though, when plugged through the USB.
When i compare the pics from my dads 430, which is 5 megapixels, and the ixus 40, there isnt a noticable difference, i dont know how it would compare to the finepix though.
Another huge plus point of the Ixus 40 is the viewing screen, its HUGE!!!

Theres loads of indoor pictures, and some outdoor pictures from my camera here:
http://public.fotki.com/philmorgan/

Phil