Polaroid Fun! 620 Digital Camera

The Polaroid Fun! 620 digital camera offers you an economical way to take digital pictures, and is best suited for carefree snapshots. With a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, the pictures are fun-sized: ideal for e-mail and Web pages among family and friends, but inadequate for printing. Also, don't expect great levels of detail since the image quality is only fair, with a tendency to be slightly fuzzy. The built-in 1 MB memory holds 32 digital images in full 24-bit color, like a good-sized roll of film.

With autofocusing and a fixed lens, the camera is always ready to go--picture-taking simply requires you to point and shoot. This means the camera can be used by nearly anyone, of any age. The four top buttons function for power, erase, self-timer, and shutter. The 15-second timer gives you plenty of time to jump in with your friends in front of the camera. The tiny LCD screen only displays two alphanumerical characters. The default setting for the display shows the total pictures taken, but can also inform you when memory is full and the battery is low. A beep sounds when you take a picture or erase. Two LED lights beside the optical viewfinder indicate low-battery status and when the camera is on. If not in use, the camera automatically shuts off after 60 seconds to conserve battery life. On the bottom of the camera are a battery compartment for four AAA batteries (included), and a screw mount for tripod use.

The included dual-cable has the option of either USB or serial connection. This is a welcome feature for anyone with older, non-USB equipped computers, while still offering easy USB connectivity. The camera's fairly compact size and wrist strap make it easy for carrying anywhere. The plastic housing feels solid in-hand, but lacks any substantial grip or ergonomic design.

The bundled software, PhotoMax, interfaces with the camera for easy transfer of photos and more. You can crop, resize, enhance the image, and even add crazy special effects. The software catalogs your images in custom folders with thumbnails for easy photo perusing and slideshow. The file-renaming tool keeps the images identifiable with date imprinting. Through the software, you can even visit Polaroid's Web site to access helpful resources on digital photo-taking and open a free account to store and distribute photos online. The software is compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, and 2000.