HP Pavilion HDX16-1140US 16.0-Inch Laptop Review

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(More customer reviews)As compared to other laptops at roughly the same price point, this computer is a much, much better deal. I couldn't believe it when I saw it.
I bought this the 1st day it went on sale at Amazon - was literally about to pull the trigger on another laptop, but this popped up new on a final scan, so I bought it instead.
Main features that make it a great buy for the price are:
- A better, faster processor that is also Intel's latest offering (Quad Core Q9000)
- Lots of memory (4G)
- A bigger hard drive (500G)
- A larger screen (18.4")
- A Blu-Ray drive (for HD movies)
I wanted a very high performance laptop for under $2,000 - and was especially keen to find something with killer processor speed, a graphics card to drive 2 external HD monitors, and a big laptop screen.
I use the machine for general business purposes, but also most importantly for web development work running Drupal and an Apache development server on the machine, along with big programs like Dreamweaver and Photoshop - all running pretty much at once. I do not use for gaming, but believe it would be great for that, too. I also don't use so much for video / movies, even though it is heavily designed with that in mind.
I extensively researched machines from Dell, Alienware, Sony, Asus, and other leading vendors (I didn't want a Mac, so didn't compare against that). I'm not a hard core techie, but I wanted the best I could buy, so I also looked at the Intel site and their processor specs, visited the geek blogs to get the latest gossip on processor performance, etc.
So far I couldn't be happier with the machine! It is great. Very, very fast. Laptop screen is large and super high quality. The keyboard is really lovely - very smooth, like silk.
A few notes on things I've learned about the machine so far:
- It is a big laptop. That's probably obvious from the 18.4" screen, but it is also pretty heavy and the power cord/transformer is bigger and heavier than normal (takes a lot of power to fuel the processor and screen). So while the computer is certainly portable, it sure doesn't fit in your back pocket. If you are a highly mobile worker, this might be a factor.
- Baseline graphics card will support dual external monitors and/or an HD TV connection. I am currently running 1 external 1680x1050 plus laptop screen, but will be adding 2nd external soon (the cabling for doing this is a bit confusing, but I think I now have it figured out).
- The entire HDX line of laptops is new (introduced Fall '08 from what I understand) and there is not yet a complete line-up of accessories available. For instance, I was thinking to get a docking station to configure my monitors, but only docking station that currently works with the machine is the HP QuickDock or xB4 and these do not have digital video/monitor ports (VGA only) which renders them pretty useless if you have high performance monitors. As well, they do not yet sell 'official' HP memory upgrades for this machine yet (tech support indicates they probably will later this year, so worth checking if that's important to you). In the meantime, you can use off-the-shelf memory from Amazon or wherever. Memory is DDR2 800Mhz 200 pin (which isn't stated anywhere obvious that I saw), but can be switched over to DDR3 if you upgrage to the enhanced graphics card.
- After many painful hours on hold and being routed from one tech support rep to another, I learned that there is a dedicated tech support group for the HDX laptops. For some reason, they provide only the main number in the collateral that comes with the machine - and no one at that number seems to know about this special group. But eventually somebody figured to route me there and I recommend you go there directly. 866-408-5408.
Overall, I love this machine and highly recommend it to others.


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Expanding on the elegance of the HDX series, the HP HDX 16-1140us delivers in a design that balances performance and mobility. Its elegant Fluid Imprint finish encases leading-edge mobile architectures, including the latest Intel Centrino 2 dual-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor. And it's preloaded with the Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system, enabling you to fully access system memory to support 3D games and complex applications. You'll also enjoy high-definition video content on the 16-inch widescreen HD BrightView Infinity display--which offers true a 16:9 aspect ratio--that's matched to Altec Lansing speakers with an integrated subwoofer and Dolby Home Theater immersive surround sound.
The HDX laptop features a number of ways to protect your data. HP's ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks your 500 GB hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent data loss. The integrated fingerprint reader offers greater security and ease-of-use by associating passwords to your system and online accounts with unique fingerprints. And the built-in eSATA/USB combo port enables fast backup to an external hard drive.
It's powered by the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor--with Centrino 2 technology--which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. The 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 includes a quick 1066 MHz front-side bus and 3 MB of L2 cache, providing an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multimedia and multitasking performance.
Create custom laser-etched disc labels right in the dual-layer DVD drive with LightScribe and preinstalled Cyberlink DVD Premium. Just burn data on the disc, flip it over and burn the cover image using any scanned image and/or text. Other features include a 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM (8 GB maximum), Draft-N Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) and Gigabit Ethernet networking, Bluetooth connectivity, integrated numeric keypad, HDMI audio/video output, multi-format memory card reader, and remote control.
This HP notebook is Energy Star 4.0 certified, and has received a Silver EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact. Additionally, HP exclusive uses of EPA SmartWay carriers for reduced transportation-related emissions. HP's innovative take-back options include trade-in, recycling and donation.
High Style The HP HDX is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes with surprising innovations inside and out. A high-gloss HP Imprint finish in titanium and chrome now encases all surfaces visible during normal use for greater durability, and a sleeve is included for extra protection. The HDX series Fluid Imprint features a flowing linear pattern that enhances the reflective qualities of the metallic finish. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance.
The Basics
Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor featuring Intel Centrino 2 technology. This processor has a 2.4 GHz processor speed, super-sized 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
Formerly codenamed Montevina, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology improves upon every facet of a laptop's main features, including performance and battery life via new processors and chipsets, faster draft 802.11n wireless, and new business-class manageability capabilities. The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet.
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and it can run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background.

Hard Drive: The extra-large 500 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
You'll enjoy enhanced hard drive protection with HP's Protectsmart, which includes a 3D accelerometer that safeguards your data by parking your hard drive if your notebook detects any range of motion, such as being knocked off your desk, falling or taking abuse.

Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. This notebook has an amazing 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard (with integrated numeric keypad) and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).
Screen, Video & Audio You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 16-inch WXGA high-definition screen, which has a widescreen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels--a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio for watching DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics/video card, which provides 512 MB of dedicated video RAM and offers up to 2302 MB of total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista. Enabled by PureVideo HD, movies come to life with outstanding picture clarity, ultra-smooth video and vivid color. The lifelike images have up to six times the detail of standard DVD movies. Delivering state-of-the-art graphics performance, The GeForce 9600M GT graphics card is sure to give you the power and performance you crave to play the hottest DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 titles. Its 16x full-screen antialiasing technology delivers superior quality along with astounding performance and since it's optimized for Windows Vista.
The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound, and it also includes SRS Premium Sound. You'll be able to privately share enjoyment of multimedia with a friend via the dual headphone jacks.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). With the integrated Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones.
It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:
4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (with 1 eSATA + USB 2.0 combo port)
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
Analog video output: 1 VGA
1 ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
2 headphone jacks
1 microphone jack
1 Expansion Port 3 connector (for use with the HP xb3000 Expansion Base or the HP Notebook QuickDock)
1 IR receiver
5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet networking
56K modem (V.90)

Operating System The 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium (with SP1) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software
HP MediaSmart Software Suite: Your one-stop multimedia and entertainment center to create photo slideshows, share personal videos, listen to your favorite music playlists and watch DVD movies.
muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD.
Cyberlink DVD Suite Premium: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs.
Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar.
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (60-day trial version).
Adobe Reader 8: Read and print PDF files.
Norton Internet Security 2009 protects your PC and your identity when you email, bank and shop online; 60 days of protection updates included.

Dimensions & Weight This notebook PC measures 14.9 x 10 x 1.7 inches and weighs 7.06 pounds.
Power It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2.0 hours (depending on usage).
What's in the Box This package contains the HP Pavilion HDX16-1140US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, protective sleeve, HP Mobile ScrollSmart remote control, earbud headphones, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.
Reduce your impact on the environment with this Energy Star-certified system and HP's innovative take-back options, including trade-in, recycling and donation.

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Fujifilm Finepix A610 6.3MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been seeking an inexpensive, pocket sized, minimum 6MP camera that used SD memory, and AA batteries, when I spotted Fuji's A610 in a local store. After giving it a quick trial, I ordered one from the good people at Amazon. The Fuji met the parameters, and the low price was the deciding factor. I have not used the camera extensively, but these are my early impressions.
The A610's new Super CCD imager produces very good results in a variety of situations both indoors and outdoors, however it is not ideal for capturing action shots. Color accuracy of the images is excellent, with good saturation and reasonably good resolution for a point and shoot. ISO ranges from 100 to 400, and is selected automatically. The equivalent range of the zoom lens is 39mm to 117mm. Optical zoom is 3X, digital zoom is 6.2X.
The display is used to frame your shots, there is no viewfinder. Being able to see the screen, particularly outdoors, is critical when shooting. When set at higher brightness levels, the display is fairly visible even when used in bright sunlight. If needed, there is a button that bumps that up the brightness in the shooting mode, for about 10 seconds. The focusing point is limited to the center of the display.
The A610 has 17 shooting modes, including some unusual situations like `underwater', `beach', `fireworks', `party' and `snow'. They are accessed through a menu rather than a selector dial, which is very inconvenient. True manual control is not possible in the so-called `manual' mode. The `auto' mode will probably be the default setting for most users. Experiment with the modes, and see which ones produce results you like.
Press the `on' button, and the camera is ready to shoot in about 4 seconds. After taking a photo, the image remains on the display for approximately 3 seconds, then the screen goes blank for 1 to 4 seconds as the image is saved. When the display comes back on, you can take another photo. This cycle usually takes between 5 and 6 seconds. This is fairly long, so if you miss your shot, waiting to take another could become frustrating. Factor in the normal point and shoot shutter lag, and it means that you really need to concentrate, anticipate the action, and make your shot count in critical situations, or when shooting moving subjects.
Reviewing images is best done out of direct light. The resolution on the large 2.5" display is good. You can zoom in and out, and pan, so you should be able to tell if you have nailed the shot. The display screen is slightly recessed into the body, and is susceptible to damage if left unprotected. A protective cover would be a very welcome accessory. The buttons on the back for macro mode, increasing LCD brightness, flash mode control and timer mode, are useful, but a mode selector dial is really missed.
No memory card is provided with the camera, though it does have 10MB of internal memory. The A610 accepts either SD memory cards, or XD picture cards up to 2GB. Fuji recommends Sandisk Extreme III SD cards. I used a different brand, which may have affected the times I measured. While saving photos takes some time, there is virtually no delay when saving movies.
The camera uses two AA batteries. Fuji recommends using either alkaline or NiMH type batteries. Battery life does not seem to be extensive, as the display constantly draws power. Carrying a spare set is recommended. For NiMH batteries, the camera has a feature to discharge batteries that are running low.
A few miscellaneous comments. When in movie mode, you cannot zoom in or out, and sound is not recorded. A `protect all' feature, that enables you to protect all saved images at one time, could be very useful, as individually protecting images is a slow process. The `new' graphic user interface (GUI), looks a lot like my old Finepix 2600Z, except with larger icons. Using Finepix software to download photos from the camera is painfully slow. A program like Photoshop Elements is much faster. An underwater housing is available for the A610 and new Fuji A800, and may make these cameras more attractive buys.
My main cameras are Canon's 20D, 30D and S2 IS. I got the A610 strictly as a utility carry around. Economically priced, it produces quality images in most situations. Being aware of its limitations, you can decide if it will meet your needs. Fuji's A800 is an 8MP, and has additional features, like a mode selector dial, and picture stabilization. For a few dollars more, it may be a better choice as a primary camera.

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Kodak Mini Video Camera with SD Card (Grey) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted something small and waterproof for kayaking and canoeing...and of course geocaching.. I have a kodak zx1, a flip mino, but I wanted something smaller than those....I thought about this camera for a while/watched sample videos on youtube,finally broke down and bought this at a "best" store for $89 without a card. This camera is simple to use! turns on very quickley,and starts recording quickley.I like the 1.8" screen....big enough to see what your recording/but small enough not to use too much power...I fully charged the battery/took 2 hours of video, and I still had battery to spare! battery life is great!...this is a simple video camera/ captures video very well!small enough to put in your pocket/battery still charged after a week of frequent use!Sound quality is very good/however the only "downside" for me is......no image stablization/not a big deal/ but is slighty noticed when quick movement happens...small,waterproof,long battery life,good quality video,good quality sound, simple and easy to use.I like it/and now at the time of my review/it is $20 less than what I paid AND you get a micro card included!great deal..if you go to youtube and type ......snow2112dog..... you will see my kodak mini video test...it shows indoors.outside at night and outside during the day...and the 3x zoom at the end of the airplane....all in under 1 minute.

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Did that just happen? Some moments in life need an instant replay button. With the KODAK Mini Video Camera, you've got one with you wherever you go. This itty-bitty video camera easily slides into a pocket - even your skinny jeans. With one touch the Mini captures all the highlights, and the pop-out USB arm makes it seriously simple to share the fun on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE sites. Plus it's built to withstand your craziest days - from a fumble in the rain, to a trip to the bottom of your bag. The Mini is ready when you are - so the next time you hear, 'Did that just happen?" you can show the instant replay. The real KODAK Moment happens when you share.

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Smartparts SPX8 8-Inch Syncpix Digital Picture Frame Review

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(More customer reviews)After doing extensive research on other brands, we settled on this frame because of the price and features. After we bought it, we were pleasantly suprised to learn it is rated the highest by Consumer Reports magazine, and now we know why.
The picture quality is excellent. I started off with a free frame (gift) from another manufacturer that had half this resolution, and it did not give my pictures justice. Upgrading to this frame made a difference in the world to my picture quality. Do not buy anything less than 800x600, or your pictures just won't look good.
My favorite feature about this frame is the auto-sizing software available as a free download from the manufacturer's website. All you do is download it onto your computer, and any pictures you have on your hard drive will automatically be resized when transferred to your frame using the software.
One user complained about how slow it was transferring from a memory card onto the frame. This is because the frame automatically resizes your pictures to 800x600. This does take a little longer, but saves you hours of manually resizing your photos for the frame, so this *IS NOT* a flaw.
The one and only flaw I experienced (and maybe I have a defective unit) was I spent 2 hours copying thousands of photos onto the internal memory in the picture frame. So, I went and took more pictures with my digital camera, and slipped the memory card into the frame. I hit "copy" so it would copy from my card onto the internal memory. Little did I know, and the manual *DOES NOT* say this, but doing this will override any existing pictures on the memory. You can imagine how FURIOUS I was when I discovered that the thousands of photos I had stored on the frame were completely wiped out, and in their place were the 13 pictures I had copied. Please test this feature out first to see if it is indeed working on your unit before you find out the hard way, like I did. I plan on writing customer service about this (and hope I can get someone who speaks understandable English)
and seeing if this is a known flaw. The workaround on this would be to load the photos on your card onto your PC, then load them onto the internal picture frame. This is a major inconvenience, in my opinion.
I have not tried the movie files feature on this yet because it does not support the version my camera uses, and I am too lazy to figure out how to convert the movie files.
The sound is pretty decent, and adding mp3's to the slideshow is such a neat feature.
I also love the motion sensor on this frame. I never have to remember to turn the frame on and off.
All in all, this is a wonderful picture frame for ease of use, picture quality, and overall features. I would have rated it a 5 if not for the one serious flaw I mentioned. As a matter of fact, if this frame did not shine in the other areas I mentioned, I would have rated it less than a 4 because of the serious flaw. But, it has many saving graces, so a 4 is suitable, in my humble opinion. I will post an update from customer service once I hear back from them. I hope it will be easily fixed with a future firmware upgrade, etc.
****UPDATE**** 12/22/07 - I didn't get anywhere with customer service, but found out on my own when you insert a memory card and copy it to your frame, IT DOES NOT wipe out your existing pictures as originally thought.
It just overrides them with the new pictures and will not display the old pictures until you delete the new ones out. At this point, the old pictures are not listed on any menu when viewing from the frame. You have to hook up your frame to your computer, and navigate around until you see a folder in the software called "Spart Pic Software." This is where the old pictures are placed. Why this folder is not on the frame itself is beyond me, and why you have to hook up the frame to a computer to even see it is even dumber. And why this is NOT mentioned anywhere in the manual is just even stupider! (Is that even a word?) This is still a major flaw in my opinion. Why can't it just simply add the new pictures into the existing pictures folder without creating all of these inconvenient problems???? This is something I hope they fix with a firmware update.

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8" LCD DIGITAL FRAME W/MOTION SENSOR

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Kodak EasyShare M341 Digital Camera (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was tired of hauling around a D200 Nikon. I get great results from it, but it can't shoot video or fit in my pocket.
I picked up one of these Kodak jobs and was pleased. It had a really good macro, shoots nice video, and has all the stuff I need except for an SD card. You will have to buy one since the camera has limited memory. But it can take up to a 32 gig card. Amazing. The battery seems to have lots of juice too, which is always a problem for small compact cameras. The colors from the software are good. I hate having to photoshop images, and this has a nice color balance. Good flash too.

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Kodak EasyShare M341 Digital Camera Black

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FujiFilm FinePix A205 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Since I'm on a college budget, I needed to get an inexpensive camera so I could take pictures during the Thanksgiving Break. My requirments were at least 2 megapixals and decent image quality. I read a number of digial camera reviews and decided to pick up the Fuji Finepix A205. My first thoughts of the camera was the bulk; it's quite thick but it is light weight. Not something you would want to stick in your pants or shirt pocket though. The buttons on the camera do feel cheap, but it was only $150 so what?
Other than those small gripes, the camera takes excellent pictures but only in well lit environments. Outdoor pictures are really nice. Indoor shots can end up grainy if there isn't alot of light and I mean A LOT OF LIGHT. The flash is only effective in close range (at least 5ft to 6ft) Anything beyond that, make sure the environment is well lit or your subject is close.
Macro mode just takes a press of the button and it works really well. There is also a movie mode, but forget about using it unless the room is very very very very well lit.
Comparing indoor shots taken with the A205 and a 3MP Sony digital camera, the A205 images were less grainy than the Sony's, but the Sony's pictures were brighter because of the better flash.
In conclusion, the Fuji Finepix A205 takes very excellent pictures outdoors and indoors in bright light or when the subject is close to the camera with the flash. I could only give it 3 stars for the poor flash performance.

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Olympus FE-46 12MP Digital Camera Pink Crayola Kit with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD and Silver Case, 64 pack of Crayons and Storage Box Review

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(More customer reviews)I am not a photographer; I bought the camera as a gift for my girlfriend. I did, however, look at a lot of (>100) cameras; my criteria were: (1) < $100 and lower is better, (2) image stabilization, (3) minimum 5x optical zoom, (4) Well rated both by consumers and professional reviewers, (5) Low (and explainable) number of poor reviews.
The only camera that made the final cut was the Olympus FE-46.
My girlfriend has had the camera just less than a week, but she was and is thrilled with it. She is still learning the many options she has, and is slowly mastering them, but has had absolutely no complaints.
Ironically, buying the camera in the "Crayola" package, which included a decent case, was substantially less expensive than simply buying the camera. BTW, for those who may be concerned about buying the "child's package", the camera is packaged in a retail box in the larger box.
The camera also has a tripod mount (although we've not used it), which increases its utility. It also seems to be solidly made, and has an automatic lens cover when powered down reducing the chances of significant damage.
There are only two potential downsides I see so far; first, it uses disposable AA batteries (NiMH rechargeable batteries may be an option), and the proprietary xD media cards is being phased out (the MASD-1 adapter can be used, but may be difficult to replace if lost).

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12mp digital camera w/ 5x optical zoom,Image stabilization, face detection,red eye fix, and Autofocus tracking

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Olympus FE-46 12MP Digital Camera Blue Crayola Kit with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD and Black Case, 64 pack of Crayons and Storage Box Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this camera from qvc. It was a today special value for around $130. I was looking for a camera with a good optical zoom since most of the cameras sold in store are usually 3x. When I recieved the camera I was content with my perchase. I thought it was weird that instead of a regular sized xd card it came with a macro xd card which would fit into an xd adapter. A month or two after using the camera with no real problems, I stopped into a Target store to print out some pictures. When I attempted to put the adapter card into the slot to view and pick out pictures, it wouldnt fit. I went home and tried to put the card into my laptop... it wouldnt fit. The adapter card does not fit into anything else except this camera. I called olympus to see if I just had a deformed adapter. The women told me that no, this was how the card was made. When I asked her if many other people had called about this problem she told me that yes, they have gotten calls for the same problem and the best they could do is send me a new adapter, which is the same as the old one, and won't fit into anything other than this camera. I understand that there are ways to print out pictures from the computer and order them from online photo sites, however, this is the most bisarre thing I have heard. I have always been able to print out pictures from stores like target and walmart and prefer to print out pictures that way. If I had known of this "feature" in the beginning I would have sent the camera back right away. After using the camera more after this incident I became more frustrated with my perchase. The zoom, which is why I bought the camera in the first place, is very blurry. Also, when the batteries die in this camera, there is no "low battery" warning. The camera shuts off. With no warning. When I went onto qvcs website to put on a review, the page for this camera had been taken down. Obviously other customers were not happy with their purchase and the camera was taken off the website. I gues its true that you get what you pay for. I will not be purchasing another olympus camera!

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12mp digital camera w/ 5x optical zoom,Image stabilization, face detection,red eye fix, and Autofocus tracking

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