Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera & CD-ROM
© 1998 Mattel, Inc.
Innovative, but in the end a real letdown, this is a combination digital camera and software package. The camera is very simple, with one-button operation and, for at least one test family, an easy connection to the computer. Girls can take up to six pictures away from the computer and more if they are connected. No film is required. Instead, after the software is installed, the pictures are uploaded to the computer and saved in a scrapbook, placed into photos along side Barbie, or edited with some basic photo effects. These special effects are very limited. Also, the quality of the pictures is grainy, and there is no flash for night-time photography. Our testers were initially excited about the product, but were disappointed in the end results. Out of the box experience : New Jersey Testers The kids wanted to get started taking pictures right away, so, using a one-month old Packard Bell Multimedia 830 computer, we installed the software (it took 30 MB of hard disk space) and tried to upload some pictures. No luck. After struggling through the documentation for 20 minutes, we finally found info about three menus deep in the software that told us we needed to plug the camera into our COM2 port. To do this, we'd need a converter plug, which wasn't included. So, we installed the camera instead on a two-year-old Gateway Destination (D5-200). This time, the pictures in the camera were imported with no problem, showing up as little thumbnails in Barbie's scrapbook. Weaknesses: The sugary sweet narration is unnecessary, and the software design is clunky and slow. Fortunately, it is simple, so it is easy to figure out. The Barbie theme comes on so strong that boys will run from the room, which is a shame. Strengths: For not too much money ($69.99) you can provide your child with a first experience with photography, without the expense and delay of film. The immediacy the camera provides is a huge advantage. When it is plugged in to the computer, the pictures you snap show up in about 10 seconds. It is a good idea to go through the tutorial on how to use the camera together, and you may want to have a discussion about with your children on the number of images they are allowed to print out.
$69.99, Win 95 (CD-ROM)
Teaches: creativity, photography