Is the Nikon S230 a good camera?

Answer 1

All of the major manufacturers make good cameras. You should shop on the basis of features and price.

I would be leery of touch-screen cameras, however. They have not been on the market long, and there may be bugs in manufacturing and software. They also tend to be fragile. The one I tried out had a disconcerting habit of doing things without my permission, but I'm sure that was my inexperience.

My philosophy is, if it works, don't fix it. Touch screens are all the rage these days, but that does not make them the best answer when it comes to camera controls.