I'd suggest forgetting about the digital zoom feature on any digtal camera. All it does is cut out the center of the largest image. You can do the same on your computer afterwards.
Also forget about using the cameras at anything but the largest resolution. Save space, yes, but at a lower quality. It's like using a 5 MP camer at 2 or 3 MP - don't waste the resolution! If you get a great photo at the lower resolution you may not be able to do much with it. You can make a large image smaller, but cannot make a small image larger - talking about quality here.
I also picked myself up a Christmas present of my own last Saturday, yet another digital too! While I have my Canon Digital Rebels (300 & 350) for my "serious" photography, I do like to have a carry around smaller one. I have a Canon Digital Elph S500 that I've been using for over a year, and it works pretty good, with 5MP. But the teeny LCD screen (1-1/2") was becoming a pain. Not just for reviewing the images, but seeing the icons on the screen - for close-ups, flash or no flash, red eye reduction, etc. required me to put on my reading glasses. Slowed things down at times.
So I looked around and for the first time in 40 years bought something other than a Canon - I picked a Pentax Optio S60 point and shoot model. It has a huge 2-1/2" LCD screen (whee!), 3X zoom, 6MP and operates on standard AA batteries. It's the same size as my Canon S500, but being newer has many more features. So many new ones to learn!
Shoot lots with your digital - no film costs!