Kodak lets its hair down with a new portable multimedia device. But is there more to like about the mc³ than its looks?
When we saw Kodak's new mc³ portable multimedia device come across our desks, we had two reactions: First, "Great, yet another company rolling three crummy, low-end products into one little package." And then, when we actually picked the thing up, "Kodak made this? Really?" After years of seeing the company's boxy, no-nonsense digital cameras, we were somewhat taken aback by the device's uninhibited gadget appeal.
The mc³ does triple duty as a digital still camera, videocam, and MP3 player. With this combination, Kodak has taken on competitors like the Polaroid PhotoMAX MP3, which doesn't offer video output, and the Fujifilm FinePix 40i, which offers superior photo quality but also sells for about twice the price of the mc³. For AU$499, Kodak is packaging its device with a copious 64MB CompactFlash card and a slew of useful software.
Now, in a device that's as small as the palm-size mc³ and does as much, you can't expect state-of-the-art hardware. The audio quality isn't the best we've heard, the still photo resolution is a low 640 x 480, and you're not going to shoot your first low-budget film with the video feature. That said, the output quality isn't bad either -- especially if you replace the sub-par earbuds that come with the device. The MP3 player has some of the nice features you'd expect in a standalone device, such as equalizer settings and a fairly powerful amp. And for posting photos and video clips on the Web or emailing them to friends -- which is the whole idea with a device like this -- the camera quality certainly suffices.
The thing that makes the mc³ most appealing, though, is its thoughtful design and smooth integration of the three capabilities. Apparently, after years of putting out those staid digicams, the Kodak people have finally let their hair down and unleashed a torrent of snazziness. The mc³ not only looks good, but, more importantly, it feels good in your hand, whether you're using it to take a snapshot or to flip through your MP3 list. All of the controls fall in the right place, and the menu system is completely intuitive. A little reflective LCD serves as both a viewfinder and menu display, and we found it pretty easy on the eyes. Kodak has also managed to work in useful features such as a tripod mount and a video-out port without cluttering up the design.
We can't say that a device like the mc³ will ever eradicate our skepticism about the ultimate value of the Swiss Army knife approach to gadget design. But if what you'd really like is to have a whole bunch of media capture options in an object no larger than your wallet, you could do a lot worse than the mc³.
Kodak mc³
Company:Kodak
Ph:1300 650 168
Price:AU$499 (Available late March)
3%
2%
