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Hi Roger, welcome to the forums
Firstly, sensor size (which may be CCD, CMOS, LMOS etc, not just CCD) isn't everything.
Secondly, there are some differences. Usually these include (but are not limited to) bigger zoom ranges, better corrected lenses, larger ISO ranges and more advanced AF systems. You also get quite different ergonomics.
On many bridge cameras you simply get a better implementation of an existing system, such as manual focus. On compacts it's basically useless - the systems require small adjustments made with buttons on the camera meaning that you can still only focus in discrete steps. On cameras such as the Fuji S200 EXR (for example) you get a proper manual focus ring on the lens barrel.
This is very similar to aperture selection which, on many compact cameras is no more than 2 or 3 different settings while a bridge camera offers a complete range of aperture settings usually in 1/3 of a stop increments.
Bridge cameras usually offer a hotshoe, which more compact models don't and more advanced metering functions (although the latest generation of compact superzooms do now have spot metering).
In short, the specifications on paper are often very similar but the ergonomics, speed of operation and the implementation of the more advanced manual systems is the main difference.
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