best digicam for an idiot

[scdan3]

advice looked for please... have read the other "which digital camera" thread, but am still lost...

I am a photography idiot who is going alaska - argintina starting next year. i want a digital camera that is indestructible, small (but not so small its easier to lose), can be charged from 12V (i.e. the bike), takes about a billion pictures, doesn't have huge shutter delay, never runs out of batteries and ideally, knows what i am TRYING to photograph, rather than what i am actually doing...

the ability to plug into a computer with a USB is a must (internet cafe's only), and ideally it will not have more than 2 cables (camera computer, and (small) charger in). i don't want anything too complicated. just a robust, superbly practical point and shoot with zoom.

and, typically, i don't want to spend too much money... (i also don't jave any objection to second hand, slightly older stuff) - every 30 quid is another day in south america.....

my mate has recommended the casio exilim as his survived a back packing rtw, but it has a "base station" that has to go with it... which i really don't want. (it will get lost, or more likely, broken whilst knocking about in the panniers....)

so really, someone please tell me, what camera do i buy! (working on the assumption they will be cheap after xmas...)

cheers

dan