Just pointing and shooting... the difference between natural light & pop-up flash

I think the pictures say it all (please pardon the grany-ness of the natural light photo, low light, high iso= NOISE).
Flash:




So many blown out hot spots... the highlights in the eyes are pinpoints.

Window light:


Please note: this was a point & shoot!!! I was just experimenting, this wasn't meant to be an amazing shot.

Lower light, but the eye highlights seem natural and there are fewer "hot spots". There is also more depth to the lighting.