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| Intel Pocket PC Camera (Cameras) |
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Hardware Reviews January 2001 • Vol.9 Issue 1 Page(s) 21 in print issue |
Intel Pocket PC Camera (Cameras) | ||
 The Pocket PC Camera from Intel isn't the first camera we've seen that functions both as a still digital camera and Web cam, but it is the best we've seen in terms of quality and price. For just a buck under $150, the camera features an excellent software bundle, a sturdy and attractive design, and a Web cam quality that soars way above average. Beyond these attributes, what really stands out about the Pocket PC Camera is its ability to easily detach its USB connection to a computer and snap still shots or capture video away from a PC or notebook. It does this by using 8MB of internal memory, which is good for storing two minutes of video or 128 still shots taken at a top resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Although the Pocket PC adaptability is attractive, the camera isn't without some notable limitations. For starters, the quality of the still shots is really only good enough for posting to a Web page or attaching to e-mail. The 640 x 480 resolution won't render quality prints, and that resolution doesn't begin to approach the quality you'll get from a standalone digital camera. Not surprisingly, our still shots were a bit blurry and grainy. In addition, the camera is constructed without a built-in flash, which will limit your picture taking to brightly lit environments and daytime shots. Also, there isn't an LCD at the back of the camera to preview and review shots, and there's little in the way of manual controls. That said, with a price of just $149 we expected the camera to omit some features. As a Web cam, the Pocket PC excels. The camera's design appears to be identical to a basic point-and-shoot camera, but it actually fits snuggly into a sturdy tripod bracket that lets the camera swivel 360 degrees and slightly side to side and up and down. The 6-foot USB cord conveniently plugs into the back of the camera, and there is a manual focus ring at the front. The lens has a 50-degree field of view and focuses from 10cm to infinity. When detached from the computer, the camera is easily small enough to slip into a pocket for traveling. The Pocket PC grabs 30fps (frames per second) at 320 x 240 pixels and 15fps at 640 x 480. Video we viewed flowed smoothly and was extremely bright with good clarity. Colors were vibrant and accurate, but we did notice some graininess and lack of focus deep into backgrounds. The camera features automatic exposure and color control; it adjusted very well when we placed it in diverse lighting conditions. Overall, the camera's quality rates just slightly below the top Web cams we've seen. As a bonus, the Intel Create & Share software the camera bundles with is wonderful. The software's main interface is extremely intuitive and features applications for making video phone calls, creating e-mail postcards, sending video e-mail, taking motion-detected snapshots from the computer, creating movies, building Web pages, and playing interactive games. MGI Photosuite image editing software is also included. We don't recommend purchasing the Pocket PC Camera for its still digital camera abilities alone. The image quality the camera produces is only good enough for Web-related tasks. But if you're seeking an easy-to-use still camera that is also capable of performing as a very good Web cam, this model is definitely worth your attention. by Blaine Flamig
$149 Intel (800) 628-8686 (916) 377-7000 http://www.intel.com/PCcamera
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