Is the Canon Powershot SX10IS difficult for a beginner to use?

I recently bought the Canon Powershot SX1 IS which I believe is not available in the US or at least not yet. This camera is very similar to the SX10. Basically the SX10 is what they call an advanced point and shoot (PnS) camera. It can work well in full auto mode which does all the settings for you and lets you know when you need to use the flash. The advantage of advanced PnS is they offer the capability of manual control setting. So as you become more familiar with the fundamentals of exposure control you will have the opportunity to play with various settings this camera offers. In short, this SX10 should be pretty easy for a beginner to use but also allows you to grow as you become more advanced in photography. The only major downside to the SX10 compared to other PnS is the size. This is not the type of camera you can put in your pocket.