Cool? Well it's sure not hot. (Cool i-cam)

Member Name: wiggglypufff

Product:	Cool i-cam
Date:	02/02/03 (1879 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Robust, Cheap, Does work

Disadvantages: Poor results, Outdated model

For a long time I'd wanted a digital camera, but sadly never had the money to spare for an all singing all dancing model. After getting married in June 2000, myself and hubby found ourselves with a large amount of Argos vouchers as we'd not really wanted for anything specific so had said to people if you really feel the need to buy, make it vouchers.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, after buying some garden furniture and various household bits and pieces, there was £50 worth of vouchers left. Whilst thumbing through the Argos catalogue for probably the 100th time, I came across the Cool-icam at a sum of £49.99, and decided that was where the last vouchers would go.

To be honest the picture in the catalogue didn't instil much faith in me. This particular model of Cool-icam (the 2728) looked rather like one of those dodgy joke cameras that squirt water at unsuspecting victims, but all the same I decided I'd take my chances and buy it anyway.

So, off we trundled to Argos, and I soon became the somewhat hesitant, but none the less proud, owner of my first digital camera. Hmmm, let's get real here, I was so excited I was ready to burst. I love all gadgety things, and I couldn't wait to try it. Sadly, I was 20 miles from home, and with no battery, so I consoled myself by exploring the contents of the box anyway.

The box was about 10 inches square (please excuse my guestimate there, but it was over 2 years ago, and I don't have the box or that good a memory anymore) with a see-through plastic front so you could see all the bits. Not content with seeing, I wanted to fiddle, so out came the plastic tray that carefully housed all the bits.

The Contents
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, obviously the camera was there for starters!

Moving on there was a little soft material pouch (grey and black in colour) for the camera to be kept in and that had a belt loop on it and a little hanging loop which you
could attach one of the two accompanying straps to. The straps themselves were black cord with a little clip on the end. One was a wrist strap and the other a neck strap.

There was also a stand and tripod adaptor (self explanatory really), a USB cable (to connect camera to PC), a CD-ROM (with drivers etc), a year's guarantee card, and a 31 page manual. Yup, 31 pages all in English, covering all aspects of the camera's use.

My first impression was as it had been in the catalogue. The Cool-icam looked like a toy. It was small and plastic (silver coloured at that, with black trim). Tacky did spring to mind, but I knew when I'd parted with my vouchers that I wasn't going to be getting a top of the range model, so it wasn't a major issue.

The inclusion of the pouch was a good idea though, and the attachable straps, stand, and USB cable. To be honest the Argos book hadn't given much clue as to what I should've expected, so to find a basically all-in package was quite pleasing. No battery though! Not a problem as Argos did pre-warn me at the till that I'd require one (this model takes a 3V lithium battery - CR123A) and I already had several at home.

The instruction manual seemed quite in depth for this little piece of plastic, so that was a nice touch too, as often when you but the cheap end of the market you're left to figure it all out for yourself. Not that I thought it would pose any great problem, but it was nice to have the info there all the same.


The Manual
~~~~~~~~~~
As I said earlier, there were a whopping 31 pages. The first page, an introduction where I learnt my Cool-icam was not only a digital camera but also a web cam and even capable of recording video clips. The next page was a table of contents, listing the page number for each issue, therefore allowing you do direct to the issue that you were interested in rather than having to read it all in one go.
<
br>The table of contents covered: System requirements, package content, getting to know the Cool-icam, getting started, customer support, troubleshooting, battery guidance, technical specifications and the FCC notice (to be honest having read the latter I was still none the wiser but presumed it's inclusion was a legality of some sort).

Anyway, by the time I'd read briefly through the manual I was home, and able to get started. First thing...


The Software
~~~~~~~~~~~
Despite the cheap price, the CD had four pieces of software on it. When you stick the CD in, an installation wizard launches with a menu for all the options:

Cool-icam driver ~ this is the only bit you need to install before you can use the camera and see your piccies. This installs a somewhat basic but acceptable viewing programme that allows the pictures to be uploaded from the camera, viewed in thumbnail format, and saved to folders if required. This software is also used to make and save the video clips.

Ulead Photo Express 3.0SE ~ this is a much more functional piece of software that can be used to edit and manipulate your photos. You can also make cards, banners, and web pages. Whilst it's not in the major league with Paint Shop Pro and the like, it is a good programme, relatively easy to use, and opens up your options for digital imaging.

Microsoft NetMeeting ~ this software allows your cool-icam to be used as a web cam too. Installation is of course optional as is the above, so if you don't think you'll use that feature you don't have to install it. But it's handy to have it there just in case.

Acrobat Reader ~ You may need to install this if you want to access the Photo Express user guide. (That, and many other manuals/help files are commonly being presented in .pdf format which requires a software package to read it). Acrobat Reader is also available as a free download online and there's a chan
ce you'll have it anyway, but if you haven't, it is included for you.

Okay. So having installed my required software, it was time to test out the camera...


The Power
~~~~~~~~
There were two options to power the Cool-icam. The easiest really was to pop in a battery, which was done by a simple thumbnail turn on the battery compartment catch to open it, and a turn again to secure it closed. The other option was to power the camera solely from the computer via the USB cable. That option is fine if you don't mind being restricted in movement by the length the cable will reach, but of course as soon as you remove the cable you lose all your pictures (unless uploaded) and also the ability to take pictures so it's not an advisable option really.

So, power enabled, and rearing to go, it was on to the camera itself...


The Camera
~~~~~~~~~~
Despite it's small and somewhat tacky appearance, this camera proved to have a number of modes and functions, but just 3 buttons in which to control everything, which made it very simple to get to grips with:

On/Off Switch ~ self explanatory really. The on/off switch was located on the back of the camera. Up for on, and down for off. Simple!

Mode Button ~ this is located on the back of the camera. It's a small black button which each time it is pressed presents you with the different mode for picture taking (more about the modes in a minute).

Shutter Button ~ this is found on top of the camera, and allows you to confirm the mode you want to work in, and then ultimately take your pictures.

As well as the 3 buttons, you've got the viewfinder (erm, to look through and line up your shot) and an LCD screen which shows what mode you are in, and how many pictures you have remaining. These are located on the back of the camera. The lens (no surprises here) is on the front. There's no cap or cover for it, so you won'
;t be caught out - as long as the camera is on, you can snap away.


The Modes
~~~~~~~~
As stated above, the use of the mode button allows you to scroll through the different modes and choose which one you want to work with...

Hr ~ When the camera is switched on it defaults onto Hr or high res mode which can take 20 pictures. This cameras high res mode is 352 x 288 so of course it's not high at all, in fact it's positively low, and most 'proper' cameras wouldn't even have that lower resolution as the low res mode.

Ct ~ the next you come to is Ct or continuous mode. To use this mode, you simply hold the shutter button down, and a continuous stream of piccies are taken at short intervals (20 shots in 4 seconds on Hr and 80 shots in 8 seconds on Lr)

St ~ the St is the self timer mode. If you select this you have 10 seconds in which to get yourself (or whatever) in place for the shot to be taken. You get 10 short bleeps, and then a longer warning bleep just before the shot is taken. The camera does stand up fine by itself, although you can attach the stand that comes with it if you wish.

CL ~ standing for clear, the CL is activated by pressing the shutter button. The CL flashes in the LCD screen for 5 seconds and requires the shutter button to be pressed again to actually clear all piccies in the memory, so chances of doing this by accident are slim.

Lr ~ finally you have the Lr or low res mode. It can take 80 shots at a res of 176 x 144. Yup, it's low res alright. But on the other hand quiet amazing that such a tiny piece of kit can actually hold that many pics!


The Picture Taking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I tried the camera initially in the high res mode. That was what I presumed would give the best results. A successful shot was denoted by a high pitched bleep, and of course the number in the LCD screen indicating remaining shots decreased. An unsuccessful shot was
marked by a low pitch bleep. I found it a little annoying that many of my shots were failing due to lack of light as I was indoors and there's no flash. But it was possible to overcome this by changing to Ct (continuous mode) which will take piccies irrespective of the lighting conditions.

You can flick between the different modes whilst using the camera by using the mode button. So, for example, if you start off in Hr (high res) and take a couple of pictures, you can then use the mode button to scroll to Lr (low res). Press the shutter button to confirm it, and the remaining memory will be converted to Lr format, and display the number of pictures left to take.

The mode change is not restricted to just resolution either. You can change to continuous mode, and or self timer, then back to normal picture taking at either res. So you're not restricted to filling your memory with just one format of picture taking per session. Impressive huh? So now you need to see the results...


The Upload Process
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was amazed at how quick and easy this was. All I had to do was open the Cool-icam programme on my PC, attach the USB cable to the camera and PC and then click the 'download image' button on the screen. It took less than 20 seconds to transfer all the pictures I'd taken and I was presented with thumbnail images.

The pictures were in .Bmp format, and to see them at full size I simply had to double click on them, and they were shown in my default programme for that type of file. (I use MS Paint as my default for .Bmp files because of it's low use of resources, but of course it will use whatever programme you have set).

A folder (Cool-icam Albums) was automatically set up when I opened the Cool-icam programme so I instantly had a place to save my images. All I had to do was highlight the thumbnails I wanted to save and then click on the 'Transfer selected' button. My ph
otos were then safely stored in an album on the PC.

Quick and easy, I ended up taking several hundred piccies, experimenting in the different modes and saving everything, so I could browse leisurely through the results at a later time. It was easy to set up new folders within the default created album (just a click of the 'open a new album' button on screen) so I could place my piccies where I wanted them.

I was surprised at how easy it was to make the video clips too. All I had to do was take pictures using the Ct (continuous mode) in high or low res, upload them, and click 'Transfer AVI'. I then had my own little movie lasting anything from a couple of seconds to over a minute depending on the frame rate selected. So, what did I/do I think?


The Pictures
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over my period of ownership I've probably taken thousands of photos in various conditions and using different modes and the results have been a very mixed bunch. It's true to say I've saved a fortune in film and developing costs, but sacrificing quality to do so.

I'd say for every 20 pictures I snap, only one or two are really worth keeping - the results are so unpredictable. With too much light the shots are pale and washed out, and with too little light they're dark and dreary. Most are grainy irrespective of the lighting conditions.

I'm not sorry I bought the camera because it's so handy for snapping quick shots of the cats, (and making little video clips to keep of when they are in a scatty mood which is quite frequent). But the picture quality is far lower than you'd get with even a most basic single use 35mm camera.

I certainly wouldn't rely on this camera for really important stuff, because I'm sure I would end up rather disappointed. Anyway, time to sum up now I guess...


The Good
~~~~~~~~
Size ~ not THE smallest, but one of the smaller cameras on
the market today, it'll fit in a handbag, or pocket with no trouble, so it's practical for taking out and about.

Use ~ totally foolproof, really! I'd imagine a young child would have no problem at all in using it with probably the same results as an adult gets.

Battery ~ lasts for ages. The camera goes into standby mode when not used for 30 seconds, and will store taken piccies for around 7 days, but if you use the camera, upload piccies, and switch off (or power it with the USB cable) it'll last for ages. I'm still on my first!

Build ~ it's solid alright. Despite the appearance it's robust and well built. It has not shown any sign of wear in the years of use it's had.

Cost ~ at £49.99 you don't feel ripped off if you are not happy with the results, nor do you feel that bad if you lose it, manage to break it (etc).


The Bad
~~~~~~~
Appearance ~ It's hard to ignore the tacky appearance of this camera. It doesn't stop it working, but your mates might take the p*ss a bit when they see it.

Quality ~ the pictures (whilst acceptable for personal use such as email and web pages) aren't great. Printing them out produces grainy images (due to the low res) and there is little you can do to change that.

Storage ~ the high res images are a whopping 298KB each in the default .Bmp format, so if you like snapping piccies and keeping them all you may see the space on your hard drive take a hammering. (You can change them to .jpg though and reduce the file size that way)

The Ugly
~~~~~~~
Progress ~ ultimately, this camera is now out dated! There are quite a few newer models that are smaller, more stylish looking, have more functions, and generally offer a better performance. They're also cheaper.


Recommend it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
No, I don't!! I do love my camera, but I still yearn for a ?proper? one. The performance of
the Cool-icam is simply not good enough to warrant an overall recommendation anymore. It has it?s good points, but as I said above, it?s rather dated in the time I?ve had it. If you are still in the market for something cheap like this though, I'd suggest checking out the following:

WWL (the makers of Cool-icam) have, since the release of my model, brought out numerous other cameras that are better, and cheaper.

Digital Dreams offer the L'espion which has basically the same spec as mine, but it's cheaper, and far less tacky looking.

SiPix seem set to take the cheap end market now though with the StyleCam Blink, which got a pretty good write up in issue number 114 of Computer Active magazine.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Boring Bits ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

System Requirements
Windows 98 only
Pentium 200 Mhz or Pentium compatible processor
32MB RAM or higher
USB Port
200MB free disk space
CD-ROM Drive
Colour Monitor with minimum 256 colour graphic capability or higher
Standard mouse and keyboard

Technical Specifications
Memory: inbuilt 2MB SDRAM
Video Performance: 9 frames per sec for high res, 20 for low
Still Image resolution: high res - 352 x 288, low res - 176 x 144
Operating support: Windows 98 only
Product Dimensions: 64(H) x 82(W) x 25(D)mm

Summary: