Title : Polaroid i-zone Webster Mini Photographic Scanner
Author : Polaroid
Release Date :
Binding : Electronics
Regular Price : $
Amazon.com Price : $79.99
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Editorial Reviews : Polaroid has combined two of today's hottest trends in photography--i-zone instant prints and digital photos--with the Webster, a handheld portable scanner for i-zone pictures. The Webster scans the postage stamp-sized i-zone pictures at a resolution of 320 x 240, which is great for e-mail or for posting on the Web. Remarkably easy to use, the Webster transfers images to a computer using the included serial cable. The scanner also comes with PhotoImpression 2000 software, a wrist strap, and instruction guide. The Webster is powered by four AAA batteries (not included).
Buyer Reviews : Okay, I would have originally given this product a 3-star rating, but felt I had to give it the full 5 stars to offset some of the ... reviews from the customers.... Another thing, some other customer from Canada wrote that to use this product, you would need 12 things for this scanner to work -- but doesn't even mention what these 12 things are.
I can mention the obvious ones:
1. An I-Zone Camera (in the color of your choice)
2. Some I-Zone pictures (plain or sticky, again your choice) that you want to scan
3. A working computer with Win9x/NT/2000/ME, CD/DVD drive and the usual range of ports
4. This Webster Scanner, which comes with serial cable, CD (with lots of good image-related software) and 4 AAA batteries
That's it. What else do you need???
Product Review:
The scanner is pretty easy to use. Just hold the scanner over the picture, press the button, and voila! The picture is scanned and an image of it is stored (up to 20 images) in the scanner to be exported to your computer or to be uploaded to the internet via included serial cable at a later time.
The images produced are small -- about 250x350 pixels. The quality of the images aren't of the best commercial quality, but they're good enough for their intended use -- to be able to make copies of your i-zone pictures to share with everybody else. You can also scan small areas of other things such as text, postage stamps (*shrug* Why not?), other photos, magazines, etc. Nothing to stop you from doing this after all.
The CD comes with software and drivers you need to import pictures from your Webster scanner, plus some fun quality extras to dress them up.
The scanner itself is lightweight, but a bit fragile. It comes with a handy carrying strap, but I wouldn't exactly swing it around carelessly. The opening to the battery compartment can easily pop out and the batteries don't quite fit in snugly. This scanner definitely needs either a protective carrying case and/or improved outer casing. (How about it Polaroid?)
Overall, the Webster scanner is just a fun addition to the I-Zone line of products. While you won't get the best image quality, you no longer have to fight over who gets to keep the picture!