[ytterbium]

I thought this deserves some attention (if havn't received any yet).
Samsung unveils TL500/EX1 with fast f/1.8 lens: Digital Photography Review
If i'm not mistaken this is one of the first f1.8 p&s in a long time.

[alexeyga]

I thought this deserves some attention (if havn't received any yet).
Samsung unveils TL500/EX1 with fast f/1.8 lens: Digital Photography Review
If i'm not mistaken this is one of the first f1.8 p&s in a long time.

With a 1/1.7" sensor it should really be the last one... it's like making a Ferrari with scooter engine....

[JasonA]

I thought this deserves some attention (if havn't received any yet).
Samsung unveils TL500/EX1 with fast f/1.8 lens: Digital Photography Review
If i'm not mistaken this is one of the first f1.8 p&s in a long time.

I'm interested, but it'll all come down to the lens quality.

I had a G11, which has a slower lens with the same sensor. It's a nice camera and takes good pics, but I made the mistake of taking some side-by-side shots with my K-x. The amount of extra detail my K-x picked up convinced me to put the G11 on Ebay the same day. I was using the Tam 28-75 on my K-x, so to be fair if I were using the kit lens it would have been a closer comparison.

The Samsung has a smaller zoom range and a brighter lens, so if they somehow manage to wring out more detail than Canon did, I might pick one up. A (relatively) small camera with a hotshoe is a nice thing to have handy. I'm also holding out some hope for the Panasonic LX4 that hopefully will be announced shortly.

[Mike.P®]

I.m watching this one with interest.
Been looking for a decent compact.

[PaddyB]

I'm also holding out some hope for the Panasonic LX4 that hopefully will be announced shortly.

Don't hold your breath...when I was shopping for my compact I kept reading that there wasn't going to be an LX4 and that the GF-1 was going to replace it.

Anyway, I wouldn't say the LX3 is by any means outdated yet - still a great camera. I haven't seen any newer compacts that make me say "Damn, I should have waited!"

[RioRico]

With a 1/1.7" sensor it should really be the last one... it's like making a Ferrari with scooter engine....

Just to put that in context: the 1/1.7" sensor has about 5% of the area of 35mm full-frame, about 10% the area of an APS-C sensor, roughly 20% the area of a m4/3 system sensor. Your simile is quite apt. Almost like putting lipstick on a pig.