I need help getting a new camera?

Okay I got a camera a couple years ago (gift)
HP Photosmart M415 http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/...
It works fine but its not what I was looking for it has very poor battery life It's not bulky but its bigger than most cameras out there now and it no longer works because it was dropped while the lense was out.
I was thinking about getting like this http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/... it just seems great in every way but I don't want to rush into this are there any other digital cameras that have good or excellent battery life that I should look at? And does anyone have the Sony cybershot? How do you like it?

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100

Back to the basics.

Do you want to have to replace all your SD memory cards? Sony does not use SD memory cards. They use a proprietary card called the Memory Stick. They ONLY work in Sony products

The best batteries at this time for digital cameras are the Li-ion type. (no AA's rechargeable or not). Remember to manage your use of the batteries energy and they will last for a long, long time between charging. Keep the LCD turned off when you are not actually about to take a shot.

So to solve your stated problems, look for a camera that uses SD memory cards and Li-ion batteries.

All the other features of the camera will be up to you to decide which fits your shooting style.

I couldn't get the link to work to the one you were thinking about getting. I have one of the really small 8mp pentax cameras with a 3x optical zoom and I really love it. The quality of the photos is unreal. I have won major contests with shots taken from it. Of course I also have a professional quality dslr. The pentax is the one I carry with me daily for those moments you wish you had a camera with you! It fits nicely into the pocket of my jeans, right into my purse or the pocket of my hubbys t-shirt. It's the second one I have owned I upgraded from the 3mp.

For under $400, I like Canon. I've had several, all with great battery life and great photo quality. Just make sure you get one with a rechargable li-ion battery. The model depends on personal preferences. Personally I'm going to get another Canon, the A630. I like that it has a countoured "handle" which is easier to grip and a flip out screen. It's not as compact as the Elph, but from experience those features are important to me. I also like the button setup on th A630.

My best advise... go to a camera shop and hold the camera and try it out before you buy. You may find some have annoying button placement or react very slowly (not Canons but other brands like HP). You can only find those things out by actually trying it out.