SD890 or A2000 for kids and everyday use?

Well, both cameras should be able to do the job. The Elph series are usually thinner and are more expensive, opposed to the A-series. I have a Sony W170 and like it. It's a compact point & shoot with a wide-angle (28mm) 5x zoom lens. Sony, Nikon, Olympus and Panasonic also make great digital cameras. The market is very competitive, which is good for the consumer. One thing that turned me away from Canon was their use of plastic. I'd prefer a full metal body, including metal tripod mount, which Sony offers. I had a metal-bodied Sony W5 for about 4 years. It has survived many drops and still works to this day. Brands to avoid are: Kodak & Casio. Both companies tend to produce lower-end cameras, many of which are plagued by hardware problems. Try some cameras at a camera shop to see if you like the design/feel. Hope this helps!