I'm a snob, but if I was buying a camera, I'd buy one from a camera manufacturer. Samsung isn't a camera manufacturer in my eyes!
It took me long enough to get on board with the whole Panasonic thing, but if Leica can, I guess I can... Leica lenses are the daddies.
I don't think Canon have really changed their brands too much. Powershot was pretty much every compact they had, and Ixus was their kinda "stylish", incredibly compact, metal range. Though saying that, some Ixuses were also Powershots depending where you lived!
There is some sub-branding on the Powershots, I think "S" cameras are aimed at being a bit more professional. As are "SX", a bit moreso perhaps. Then the "A" range is more point-and-press.
Then there's "G", of which there's only ever one current model, which is just ace, but expensive.
Maybe something like this?
http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/ ... on_sx230hs
Cheapest in the UK at the moment is £225.