October 25th, 2005,
Reviewer: Ghosthunter
Product Ordering Facts wrote:
Product: Vidster by Mattel ©05'
Cost: $60 + Shipping & Handling
Product Data:
1)...15fps Video
2)...builtin 32mb(30mb available estimate)
3)...Video Hi-Quality and Low-Quality
4)...Digital Photos Possible
5)...4 AA Batteries
6)...1.3 Megapixel lens(equivelient of a Quickcam Pro 4000 by Logitech
7)...Data transfer to computer via USB cable
8 )...Ordering information
Amazon.com
re: ToysRUs @ToysRus.com
Vidster Digital Video Camera
#B0009VRRFG
Inexpensive Camera for Sharing Video wrote:
Many Wrongplaneters like posting video and audio so this camera might be a solution.
First Time User Facts wrote:
My experiments with the Vidster Camcorder have paid off. I can get 6 minutes on low quality that does well in filming in proper out door lighting. I get 3 minutes in high quality, though not enough right now to do a proper light experiment.
Trivial Facts About Product-Vidster wrote:
Some other trivial facts about the Vidster, by Mattel(supposedly a kid's camcorder, but very functional as a toy for a kid or adult novice).
1)...Photo's go to iPhoto nicely, but editing them is not fully explored.
2)...Video goes to a AVI format and will not work with iMovie, but that is because it is because it is a PC formating. I have the same difficulty with Real Audio Player, Window Media Player, and DivX Player movies.
The good thing though is the AVI video will burn and play from OS X. I tested it on X.1, X.2.4, X.2.8. The only kink to this is that the Iomega CDRW external will not be recognized by X.2.8, but it will be recognized by X.1 and X.2.4. Thus I have have doubt when I run X.3 on this Pismo PBG3, I will have further need for the Wallstreet to run X.2.4 for burning purposes.
The Wallstreet has always been a good burner, and wifi'r and downloader thus I have no real concern about this being old as a tester since it represents the versatility of the Burner, and Vidster.
Comparions of a Vidster to a Quickcam Pro 4000 wrote:
[summarized by Pyraxis, with permission]
The Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 is an older camera with similar functionality. It's also Mac/PC compatible and works with OS 9.x to OS X.3. The quality of the pictures is similar (1.3 megapixels) but the difference is that the Vidster has a lesser range of functionality. It has a slideshow review for still photos and less frames per second then the quickcam pro4000, which does a full 30 and stopmotion of 5 frames per second versus the 15 frames per second or the Vidster. One of the best perks: the Vidster's surprisingly good sound quality, considering its size and price. The Quickcam had very poor audio. Quickcams are still sold for OS X but are no longer available retail for earlier Mac OS versions.
*Gripes on Apple's lack of customer support! wrote:
Of course Apple doesn't fess up to these things and don't support their own 2 year old products, let alone much older units. Yet their is a Aero card from Mac Sense (B-card) for $90 and covers OS 9.x-X.3 and is still available ©03' and Iomega USB Burner from 2005 that covers OS 9.x-X.2.4, not X.2.8 and above that is actually available at Office Depot for $90, and to top it off Logictech's still making Quickcams for OS 9.x-X.3 and I have had 2 of them in the last 2 years that work on even a ancient Wallstreet, thus Apple can screw themselves in their lack of informing their customers.
Business is business and Apple old-school is no more, only the current OS X-something is support as it is released and most stuff they make is for that specific OS, thus 1 year makes a big difference if you don't buy accessories immediately after you buy your new Macintosh in the Apple Stores. f**k Apples customer support for faithful Older Mac Collectors like myself, and yay! to the supportering companies that recognize collectors of old macs and their courage to be bold like us collectors of older macs that are left holding the bag by fickle Macintosh marketing tactics.
Mind you, I luvvvvvv their products not support, so I am not dishing macs but the customer service and support past the basic 1 year warranty. They sell customer care packages but don't continue support on accessories past 2 year models on a better scenerio, and 1 year scenerio; so their apple care warranty is only good as a repair thing, not accessory thing.
Technical Details wrote:
3)...512mb SD cards or 256mb SD cards override the base 32mb built-in the camera.
4)...Base and estimated video filming totals
High Quality Totals:
8mb estimate(based on 3 minutes at 24mb tested)
•8mb estimate x 10=80 megabytes for 10 minutes
•8mb estimate x 30=240 megabytes for 30 minutes
•8mb estimate x 50=400 megabytes for 50 minutes
Low Quality Totals:
6mb estimate(based on 4.5 minutes at 28mb tested).
•6mb estimate x 10=60 megabytes for 10 minutes
•6mb estimate x 30=180 megabytes for 30 mintutes
•6mb estimate x 50=300 megabytes for 50 minutes
[edited by Pyraxis, with Ghosthunter's permission]
25 Oct 2005, 11:00 pm
