Flash Reviews

It was my first digital camera, and all I was looking for was something to snap pictures to send via email.

For that purpose, it's fine. Sort of. The images are consistently blurry and there isn't a lot of detail thanks to the low-resolution sensor.

I decided on a whim to buy a Kodak DX3700 3.1-megapixel camera, hoping to get higher-resolution images (I knew nothing about digicam technology last year...call it naivety). Okay, first of all the Kodak is definitely more expensive. Secondly, the Kodak's photos are light-years better than the Polaroid's. Period.

I have now shelved the low-resolution Polaroid and have used the Kodak exclusively.

If you're on a budget and don't mind inferior images, then the Polaroid is great. But if you plan on printing your pictures, then get at least a 3.0-megapixel digicam and ignore this Polaroid entirely.

If you use the program compatability wizard on the setup program on the CD the software for the camera will install and run fine in XP. I rated the camera low because mine too has the same issues with the lcd (mylar ribbon inside the camera loses contact) and I do agree that all serial port connected cameras are slow to transfer images(after all serial ports were only designed for analog modems anyway). My camera also has a single bad pixel in the center of the CMOS imager that is always black.

this was my first camera. Since then I have had the Polaroid PDZ2300 and HP Photosmart 435 (Check my reviews). I thought it was a good camera for the amount of pixels. But I was limited to wat I could do. I would defiently recommend at least a 1.3MP though. I found the software confusing too. I could only get 15 pictures though so that was a down. I have come along way since this camera, but this camera was a good beginner.

I recently (like 4 weeks ago) bought a PNY multicard reader that does USB 2.0 and reads smart, mmc, compact flash, memory stick, etc.

Well it worked fine for a few weeks than broke. If its plugged in my computer won't boot, and if I boot my computer then plug it in the computer freezes.

So no problem I thought...I'll just RMA it and get another one. Well I go to their site and click on Warranty and the multicard isn't even listed. So I thought I'd email them? Well no email address. Fax them? Nope no fax.

I go and get the original packaging I had with the card and call the tech support number. I must have clicked through 20 voice menu prompts and it seemed like forever (10 minutes probably). I finally get to the point where it tells me to hold for a tech support person...and the hold time was like 40 minutes (this is well before christmas too). It says I can leave voicemail and they will call me back...so I do...and I don't hear back.

So I try to call back today (day after christmas) and the line is busy. Unbelievable. I'll never buy another PNY product again.

Generally speaking, a card reader is a card reader and nothing to get religion about. However, this PNY has some smart features that others don't that are worth noting:

o You don't need to drag around a USB cable. The PNY comes with an extension cable, but you don't need it; this plugs directly into a computer... and its baby cord squeezes between the other USB plugs.

o This is much more portable than pretty much any other reader I've seen. If you plan to leave your reader on your desk connected to one computer, then the other guys are just fine. But this fits easily into pants or shirt pockets -- and again, there aren't any cords to lug around (and leave behind).

o I haven't had any of the hassle another reviewer mentions.

Several Major Problems
1.The smart media card tends to drop inside the device- there is nothing to hold it in place.
2. Tended to scratch the media card.
3. Failed to read the card about half the time

I had the same problem with the card dropping inside however it really isn't a major problem. The enclosure slot is a bit too large and the card can slide in above the tracks that hold the card in place. If it was an expensive unit, I'd be disappointed with this flaw but I bought it specifically because it was cheap. It works and I'm happy with it.

I teach digital photography and use this reader regularly. It's the only one I've used that consistantly works well with no problems in Windows XP.

This is the reader I ALWAYS recommend to mu students! It's simple, light and does not get in the way.

As to not reading the card every time (Previous reviewer's comment) I'd guess he had a bad memory card. I've used a dozen or more of these readers and have not had a single problem with any of them.

...P>- Has issues with Windows 98, even with downloaded drivers from PNY's website. Windows 98 would "lose" the drive, i.e., not recognize/detect it after a period of usage. Tried the reader with other Windows 98 machines: got the same problems.

- Works perfectly with Windows XP. Installed quickly. No drivers necessary. True Plug and Play bliss.

- Functional, but ugly. ...P>Anyway, just a caveat emptor to Windows 98 users: you may want to look at another vendor for your CompactFlash needs.

I purchased the PNY USB Compact Flash Card Reader at Best Buy... After installing it on my Windows 98 system, the card reader behaved erratically, crashing the system or making the drive disappear from the system (in other words, Windows 98 suddenly can't detect it anymore). Even downloading updated drivers from PNY's website did not work.

To be consistent, I tried the reader with two other Windows 98 machines and got the same problems. Interestingly enough, it works very well with Windows XP systems (no drivers are needed for installation - true Plug and Play at last!).

The transfer rate of the reader is the standard USB 1.1 rate: about 1.5 Megabits per second, slightly faster than a zip drive, since the card reader and media have no moving mechanical parts.

Side note: I was about to give up on getting any flash media and readers whatsoever since I use Windows 98 a lot. However, I have used two other flash products (Sandisk's 128 MB Cruzer using SecureDigital media and JungSoft's 128MB solid-state drive) with no problems on both Windows 98 and XP.

So, caveat emptor: if you're using Windows 98, you may want to look for a reader from a different vendor. If you're using XP (I have not tested the product with Windows ME) and don't mind USB 1.1 transfer rates, the PNY USB reader is an inexpensive solution.

P.S. I gave the product three stars because given the smooth designs of other available products (SanDisk's Cruzer comes to mind), the reader looks an oversized, uninspiring lump of flattened coal (Uh, PNY, hello? Other companies have already done the market research for you: people like silver.) A CompactFlash card is not that large; PNY should have designed a more compact (intended word use) reader that won't burst the seams of my shirt pocket.

Though you need the drivers on the enclosed CD if you have Windows 98, for other operating systems this self-installs when you attach it to a USB port and shows up as a removable drive. Then you can copy files from your CF card at USB speeds. An extension USB cord is included if necessary, but if you have easily accessible USB ports you can just plug it in directly. It's the next best thing to having a built-in CF card reader.

Very sleek and conveinate memory device useful item for my pda and digital camera I keep all my music and media files with me all in one tiny card in stead of carrying cds very nice

I got this card to work with a SmartMedia adapter for my Handspring PDA.

I haven't had any problems at all while using this item. The extra 64 megs of space is great. My only problem with it could be the slow speed of the card, but that could be due to the fact that it is attached to a PDA.

Rating: A definite buy

My friend got this product for his rio 500 so he could hold more music. We thought it would be a peice, because of the price, but it turned out to work quiet well. It just plugged in and puff he had a card that could hold as much as his unit for under 50 bucks. i would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a smart media card, and the price is great for a solid product. (it won't break easy because i droped it twice).