I cannot operate this new Digital Camera?

I dont think the problem is you are too intelligent to use a P&S camera. Above average intelligence does not diminish your ability to operate a point n shoot. I also dont think its because you are expecting to use a light meter to find and adjust the exposure for each shot and the camera you have does all that for the user. Who expects this when using a point n shoot?

Ive used film SLRs for many years. When my daughter was growing and getting more active the SLRs were too much to carry around trying to get photos of her. I bought a digital point n shoot. It was the first point n shoot I had in a long time. Learning to use it was a breeze. I honestly believe even SLR users or DSLR users would benefit from having a point n shoot in their gear. I dont believe it may be better if you find a digital camera body that you can use with your existing lenses you use on your 35 mm camera.

Perhaps youre subconsciously just resisting the change. When I bought my point n shoot I wanted it for a reason. How do you feel about using a point n shoot? My older brother resists all technology. He cant set the time on his VCR or adjust the settings on his answering machine. He simply refuses to learn. Are you hesitant about learning this new technology?

I read through your manual online and quite honestly I would be taking pics in about 10 minutes with your camera. Pages 10 through 16 tell you all you need to know to get going.

Do you really want to return a camera your wife gave you? You can learn to use this camera. Step away from it for a bit and relax. If you have resistance let it go. Then read only pages 10 through 16 and you should be up and running in no time.

I also got a new camera for Christmas, a canon G10. I found tutorials on utube, go here for your tutorials http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=sony+DSCW230...

if you have not attempted your USB cable and program already, you'll continuously check out a card reader. it really works like slightly disk force on your flash media. You can switch pix to and out of your pc to the flash card making use of the cardboard reader. .