One heck of an article http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/technology/07pogue.html
I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, but it seemed right here. Back when I spend $500! on my DSC-W1 I was getting a top of the line Compact. First on the block with the large (and now standard) 2.0" LCD on the back, metal casing, Carl Zeiss lens, now you can get something equal like the Canon 630 for under $300. My how times have surely changed.
I have thought about getting one again, but I am still not sure I would use it enough.
Samsung is turning into a great electronics company eh? Great camera there.