first, i'd tell you to check out
www.dpreview.com and use the buying guide there, as you can enter all of the parameters you're looking for (price, mega pixels, features, etc) and it will come up with a list of cameras that fit the bill.
but, you already have a list of cameras. i would still tell you to use dpreview, to see what other info you can find about each of the cameras, and you can see the type of pictures that each camera can produce.
i used the nikon 5900 for a day or two (one of my friend's bought it, and had no idea how to use it). took better macro shots than i anticipated. zoom was so-so. time from hitting power button to use of the camera was a bit sluggish to me.
most everyone i know that has a canon point and shoot raves about it.
from previous experience with a kodak point and shoot camera, i thought it was average at best.
i'm happy with my sony, but it's a dsc-f717 which is a "higher end" camera compared to the sony you selected. sony point and shoot users also tend to be pretty happy with their cameras. the drawback many sony cameras have is that they only use a memory stick- which is sony only. i.e. you can't use a compact flash card in it (i think there are only 2 sony cameras which now accept cf cards, but it's no consequence here as the one you've selected doesn't).
other things to think about with your budget:
1. memory card, or memory stick
2. tripod