Want to impress your friends with your new Casio E-115 Pocket PC? The Casio Digital Camera card is the accessory you need. Plug this compact flash card device (pictured below) into your PDA to start recording your own movies, and taking digital pictures. That's right, the small Compact flash card device seen below will enable your PDA to expand it's multimedia ability over and above playing movies and viewing pictures to actually creating them.

Below in the second column of images you can see the device before it is plugged into a Cassiopeia. It is very small and once plugged in you can tell there was a lot of thought put into the camera card. You probably noticed that in the third and forth images below the lens is visible. This is because the camera can swivel back and forth. If you watch the display as you rotate the camera, you will see a certain point (in the rotation) where the image flips. This allows you to video yourself or someone else while viewing the screen right side up.

In the image below, you will notice a notch in the tube shaped camera at the top right hand corner. This is to allow you access to your stylus without having to remove the camera card.

	The Casio Camera

The camera stores pictures in JPEG format, and videos in it's standard .cmf (Casio Movie File) format. I would much prefer it to record in AVI, but Casio has gone with their own format on this accessory. Perhaps this is to conserve storage, though I am not sure on the exact file specifics. With the Cassiopeia's multimedia software, you do have the option of changing the file over from .cmf to .avi, so if you have a file you really want to share with your friends (on their PC), it can be done.

One downside to having the card plugged into your device is the change in battery life. Without the card in, the Casio typically gets about 10 hours of battery life. With the card in, the Casio gets only 45 minutes of battery life. At least the camera card does not require it's own power source, but Casio should have some kind of packaged deal with an extra battery. 45 minutes is not very long, so you have to find some place to store the card in between uses to maximize battery power.

A second downside to having the camera plugged in is the physical size change. With the camera card in, the PDA won't fit inside most cases thus making it harder to transport. You may end up leaving it behind often, simply because of the inconvenience of carrying the card along.

Overall, I think the camera card is a cool toy, but not something everybody needs. At $299 US, the card is a little expensive, and probably difficult for many to justify cost-wise. However for food, vehicle and other inspectors needing to take pictures and small movie clips constantly, this may be what is required. It is very compact for what it offers, and is cheaper than most digital camera solutions (particularly if you already own a Cassiopeia).

• Video Recording
• Can take snap shots
• Uses PDA's internal battery power
• Decent Digital Camera Solution

• Does not use AVI file format (or another standard format)
• Camera module limits the cases you can put your Cassiopeia into.
• Doesn't come with it's own case, or lens protective cover.
• Only works with the Casio E-100, and E-105
• Limits battery life

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