Fuzzy pictures indoors on point and shoot cameras

I read a lot of complaints from people about their not being able to take clear, dependable pictures indoors, with the flash or without. Most of these complaints are from regular users, with limited technical knowledge or experience. First of all, we need to be realistic about point and shoot cameras. They are a general purpose camera, and they have sure come a long way for the bucks we put out for them. We, in our newfound bliss, use them in all situations, however, and become disappointed when they fail to come out in focus and pretty. There are a number of things that cause a picture to be out of focus indoors, and even outdoors at times, but low lighting and a non-distinct subject are the major villians that ruin our precious moments.
A point and shoot camera has a sensor that demands a certain amount of light to translate the object digitally. In low light situations, the camera simply can't "see" good enough to focus well, and there is a simple solution, which is getting more light in the room. Forarmed with good light ensures quality pictures, but even moreso, having the right lighting is the icing on the cake. There is nothing you can do to force a camera to do that which it not capable of, and although manufacturing specs usually specify low light minimums, these conditions turn out to be less perfect in reality than the specs might lead us to believe. If you really do a lot of shooting indoors, and want the best quality pictures, you have to step up to a digital SLR camera. They have more sensitive sensors, more pixels, and control over manual settings that you just can't achieve with a typical point and shoot, allowing you to take better pictures under difficult situations. So, in summary, be realistic about your point and shoot, and do a little research into proper lighting for good results. You can google the topic and get many great articles by pros and amatuers alike, letting you know what works, and giving you options. Remember the old saying "you get what you pay for", and if you really demand more perfection in your photography, you will have to step up to a more capable digital SLR system, and dig in your wallet a bit! Good luck, and happy camering!