I love Kodaks. My first digital camera was an old Kodak DC210. My husband worked at a electronic warranty place and this camera came in as not fixable. When they got stuff like that the employees could buy them for $5. So he bought it and messed with it and that camera still works great!
I just recently upgraded to a newer model just because I wanted something with more mega pixels so I got another Kodak. It's a Z1012 IS and I got it right before Christmas and so far am very happy.
I also bought a little Sanyo over the summer that had the same problem as you stated in your post. It worked fine and then one day I went to take a picture and it wouldn't come on. I tried new batteries and nothing would work. And then one day I tried it again and it works fine now. Temperamental thing.

I like it because it is really small and black so I can hide it in my purse to sneak into concerts
But I'd pick my Kodak over any others.