question about charging camera battery

[jessica31876]

OK you know how can charge an IPOD or some cell phones by hooking it up to your laptop? Well my tiny P&S has a cord which will plug into the computer/laptop to upload pictures but it also comes with an adapter which you plug the USB part of the cord into and plug the camera into the wall to charge it. It uses the same cord to transfer photos as it does to plug into the AC adapter. I cannot find that little pluggy thing anywhere so I plugged the camera into my computer (had to get pictures off it anyhow) and the light showing it is charging came on. I unhooked it after a few minutes and it shows battery power now where it was totally dead when I plugged it into the computer. However looking on the website it says the computer lacks the power to charge the camera. So will it charge fully from my laptop? would it damage either one to charge it like this? It is how I charge my cell phone and my Ipod so I know the laptop can charge devices so Im not really sure why it wouldnt charge my camera as well. I can buy a new plug adapter for anywhere from 7 or so dollars to 20 dollars depending on where I buy it.