Carolyn Smagalski

Product Reviews

Founder - Editor - Host

Whether you are a technophile or a technophobe, the Pure Digital Point & Shoot makes video recording and viewing a cinch.  Those of us who were pioneers in the days of VHS camcorders grew to expect challenges regarding video recorders; many just gave up trying.  Leaders in the industry paid attention to grumbles and moans from the general public, and have developed the newest in techno-engineering – simple, self-contained, and moderately priced.

This is good news for those who want to join the fun at Google’s newest playground, YouTube.com.  As it becomes easier to record, post, and view videos, demand for better equipment increases, and our options become ever greater.  Not only has it become easier to send grandma the latest milestone in junior’s life, but it also opens doors to demonstrating skills that can only be understood by visual means.  The Point and Shoot is a great stepping-stone to this new wave of technology.

I like techno-toys with only a few simple buttons, and the Point and Shoot thrives on simplicity.  No cables, no software to load, no hard-to-find lithium batteries, and no bull.  This palm-sized gadget slides easily into your jacket pocket or purse, and has the ability to record 30-minutes of video (60-minutes for a few bucks more) – continuous or in chunks.  A USB connector pops out of the side to connect to your computer, and internally embedded software leads you through the download, the save to your hard drive, and the upload to the web.

Once the video is transferred to your computer, it frees up the videocam memory for another rousing stream of video. For those who travel extensively and need to make quick notes, it is a great tool for saving valuable information and making an immediate transfer to your laptop when you don’t have time to write up the details.  The lens is basic, and although the picture is not as upscale as a high-end digital camcorder, it still provides a good image.  It has been licensed to numerous camera-manufacturers throughout the industry, many of whom will, undoubtedly, install more memory, a fancier lens, or greater stabilizing capacity. 

You do need to work on your skills at holding the camera steady.  Due to its small size, movements may appear exaggerated.    The built-in microphone, although quite adequate, may have a hard time picking up softer sounds.