Wanted: Digital Camera Advice

I have never been terribly happy with my digital camera.  It’s ok, I guess, but it is somewhat disappointing.  The auto-focus is slow and often does not get the pictures in focus at all, and the pictures are consistently too dark.  So, I find myself taking a lot of shots just because I know most of them won’t work out.  I literally have to edit every picture on my camera before they are usable.

So, I am beginning to consider getting a different camera.  I want a good, functional camera, but it does not need to be fancy.  I basically want a good, dependable point-and-shoot with video capabilities.  I really don’t know enough about digital cameras to make a smart decision, so I am asking my readers for advice.  Do you have any brands or models to recommend (or stay away from)?  What features should I be looking for?  Any help would be appreciated.  Please leave your suggestions as comments, and I will take all of them into consideration.  Thanks in advance!