I have the CX-4230. It works for me. I didnt buy it to go out and try to be a photographer. I bought it for everday snapshots. It's fine for that purpose. i don't know anything about the other models, but my brother and sister and law just got a Kodak easy share and it's great.

Unless your mom is going to go be a photographer, i dont see why she'd have any problems with it. Most moms barely know how to operate cell phones and dvd players today, let alone a top of hte line digital camera.