MnGCA

rickrich · Geocacher Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 673

You might have read about these $11 digital one-time use cameras at Ritz Camera...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1068844096.html

This is another one of those goofy razor/razorblade marketing ideas that was shot down several times during the dot-com craze. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Anybody remember the iOpener? How about the :Cue:Cat?

I got one of these cameras for the kids and made the cable for it so I can download their pictures without additional charge. I'm thinking of picking up another for use in a cache. Its not a great camera, but is OK for these purposes. If it gets lost or destroyed you are only out $11.

The cable needed to attach the camera to a computer can be made for less than $10 by joining a Belkin "Palm III,VIII Hotsync cable" and a USB cable together. The USB cable can be snipped off the end of any USB device you have that you no longer use. The Hotsync cable can be found on eBay, Amazon, or you might be able to find one locally if you are lucky (they don't make these cables anymore). I can help with making a cable, there is a small amount of soldering required.

There are camera drivers for Linux, Mac OS X, and even lowly Windows. I've tried the Linux and the Windows drivers. No problem with Linux, no problem with Win/ME or Win/98, but the current driver bluescreens Win/XP. I suspect the Win/XP problem will get fixed in short order. Not that anyone cares Smile

-Rick

P.S. For a humorous retrospective on the infamous :Cue:Cat, try this link http://metathink.com/killcat/

Kitch · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 1:46 pm Post subject:

i got a $15 one at officemax...then a 5 rebate.....but the cam was such a piece of junk i went and bought a better one...still cheap at 100 bucks at walmart.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261