If It Prints, I'll Let You Know

PoGo Instant DigiCam Leaves You Wanting

We did a feature on Zink around this time last month, where we expressed how we would like to see more from this technology before we can really consider it as part of the mainstream.

Polaroid is one of the companies who have used Zink technology, the recent release being the incorporation of Zink technology in a camera, giving birth to the PoGo Instant Digital Camera. The product is set to be launched in the UK this month, and will also be available on Amazon and Walmart online.

Polaroid PoGo BusinessWeek’s Aaron Ricadela gave the camera a whirl in San Francisco, and we would like to lift a few of the comments he had on the product to share with you. We did a quick feature on the PoGo camera in January this year when it was on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas; this time around, we’re sharing with you a review – since we have not had a chance to do one ourselves.

The plus factor that Ricadela found about the camera is “instant gratification” – in keeping with the classic Polaroid advantage of being able to see your prints right away. What makes this camera better than Polaroid’s old version is the fact that it won’t spew prints at every click; you will generally have time to review your photos – a digital camera feature – before you actually print it out.

The camera’s internal memory can reportedly store up to seven photos taken at 5 megapixels, although one can expand this memory through the addition of an SD memory card. There are 17 preset shooting modes which will allow you to take portraits or night shots, among others.

Luckily, just like a normal digital camera, you can hook up the camera to a PC; the quality of Zink photos leaves much to be desired, although Ricadela does mention that it is high enough if you simply want to have a memento stuck to your fridge or bulletin board.

The final verdict seems to be ‘needs improvement’; which is the same comment we had for Zink technology in general. Ricadela found the product as too expensive for the quality of prints it can produce, and heavy to carry around.