The Logitech Pocket Digital Camera is your ticket of entry into the bottomless world of hi-tech espionage and clandestine activities. Sorry, I just get so carried away glancing over at the credit-card sized camera; it makes me daydream about Spy School enrollment and how I could have the camera surgically implanted in my bicep.

So much for introductions; let's get into the details of Logitech's diminutive super cool camera. The brushed aluminum exterior adds to the camera's sleek appeal. Grab a business card out of your wallet. Take a good look at it-because the 1.8 oz camera is just about the same size (2.25" x 3.5"). This is about the easiest digital camera you will ever use. No focusing is required and it contains only two buttons on the back of the camera. One button is for toggling the resolution from 640x480 to the higher 1280x960 (1.3 megapixels interpolated). The second button is the self-timer and sound control. Also on the back, you will find a small monochrome LCD display that is most useful for letting you know remaining picture count and battery status.

To take a snap, just slide the stealthy camera body open and press the shutter. Are you ready to talk about cool technology? OK, the Logitech Pocket Digital Camera includes a built-in Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer Battery (you never have to replace it). The battery will get you through well over a hundred pictures before needing a charge. The battery is automatically charged while downloading your shots with the included USB cable. Another neat technology incorporated into the camera is something called "Autobrite" by SMaL Camera Technologies (www.smalcamera.com). Autobrite solves a shortcoming many digital cameras have interpreting varying light levels. It accomplishes this by extending the dynamic range of a scene and customizing it based on specific lighting conditions. In a nutshell, this means it compensates for overly bright or dim lighting situations to give you the most detail in your shot (I read the tech brief).

The Logitech Pocket Digital Camera includes 16MB of built-in memory which will yield about 52 pictures. Included on the equally cute miniature 3 inch CD are the drivers and MGI's Photosuite 4 SE imaging application. This quality built camera is backed by Logitech's two year warranty! Performance is best in bright lighting conditions. Memory is not expandable, there's no included flash, and no color preview LCD screen. Considering this is a unique ultra-sleek camera designed to fit in your pocket and take spontaneous pictures for $99 MSRP, I don't consider these missing particulars a deficiency. However, the Pocket Digital camera should not be compared to a 2 or 3 megapixel full-feature digital camera as those pictures will clearly be better quality.

This svelte camera would make a welcome gift for anybody-parents, teens, or especially yourself. Let me tell you what happened to me at the mall yesterday. I saw this fine looking creature sauntering down food court. So I check her out. She gives me this vague stare back and quips, "Take a picture…it lasts longer." So, I whip out the Logitech Pocket Digital Camera and say "OK, could you move over there? The sunlight is perfect!" To learn more about this camera or any of Logitech's other quality products, visit www.logitech.com.

The system requirements are at least a PII running at 400MHz with 64MB RAM. It runs under Windows 98, 98SE, Win ME, Win XP, or 2000. You will need 75MB of free HD space, CD-ROM drive, and available USB port.

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