JamC@m Pictures

You missed the very cheap JamC@m 1 digital camera offer from the now defunct Egghead.

Rhetorical question: Do you wonder if it might be worth the $7 I spent?
Here's your chance to find out.
First, some questions for you to think about:

• Is a camera that only takes 6 pictures at a time useful to you? It's inconvenient but not
  impossible if you're taking pictures near your computer and can upload easily.
• On the positive side, it has a "picture every 10 seconds" mode when connected
  to the computer. This could be very useful for monitoring something such as
  the opening of a flower (science fair project?). Just leave the camera set up and
  capture an image every hour or so. Put the images together for a time lapse presentation.
• Can you use 160x120 pixel images like these? They print smaller than a credit card.
  (NOT 320x240 as listed on the package and in the Egghead ad.)
• Can you deal with a "viewfinder" that's just a circle of plastic?
  I.E., you have very little idea what will be in the final image
  (which is why there will be people with portions of their heads chopped off).
• Will you be using the camera in a well-lighted area? (It has no provision for using flash.)
• Will the subject be still?
  The "shutter speed" is too slow to stop motion, even the turning of a head.
  (which is why some faces will be blurred).
• Can you wait 15 seconds for each image to download?
  That's about 3 minutes (including operator time) to get the pictures.
• Is Microsoft PictureIt!99 image editing software worth anything?
  (Even if you don't use the camera.)
• Is it OK if the battery in the camera is only good for about 20 hours of "power on" time?
• Can you remove 4 screws and take off the camera back to replace the battery?
• Do you want your kids to have a digital camera but you said "NO!" to the $1100 Olympus?

These are unretouched outdoor images. The pictures of me are self-portraits with the camera held at arm's length (near the close end of the camera's 3 to 8 foot recommended range).

These are unretouched indoor images. Illumination is by three 60 watt bulbs in a ceiling fixture. The pennant, clock, and photograph were also lighted by a 60 watt work lamp in a white reflector.

The bright area at the right of these pictures is the window beside my desk. The blinds are nearly closed but there is still a lot of daylight coming in. These pictures were taken in "tethered" mode, where the camera takes a picture every 10 seconds or so when connected to the computer.

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