GE A830

Connectivity
Software (7.5)
The A830 comes with a generically labeled GE Digital Camera Software CD. It is the same software that comes with other GE-branded digital cameras, so it includes ArcSoft PhotoImpression, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and QuickTime. PhotoImpression is the main organizational and editing software. It has a functional layout with organizational and browsing features listed down the left side. Users can choose to view pictures by folder, calendar, or search. Along the top of the window are options to get photos, edit, play a slide show, create a project, e-mail, print, and archive pictures.

Pictures can be viewed using the whole frame or movies can be used with the included QuickTime software. No movie editing is available, though. There are lots of choices for pictures. There is an "easy fix wizard" that walks users through simple tasks such as brightening an image. There are also traditional photo editing tools to straighten subjects, eliminate red-eye, crop, blur, and enhance colors and other parameters like brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, and sharpness.

The Creativity icon at the top of the window links to other ArcSoft programs that stitch together larger panoramas or make adjustments to edits made in the camera. There is also a program that prints scrapbook pages and can add frames, text, and clip art.

The included software is above average for what is offered by most camera manufacturers. There are lots of editing options and they are easy to access and understand. My only complaint is that the ArcSoft programs seem to take over my computer when installed. My computer ran a little slower when the programs were opened and all my photo defaults were reset to access GE programs for editing and browsing. There is a way to customize installation so that it doesn’t mess with current computer settings, but it isn’t easy.

Jacks, ports, plugs (2.0)
There is a reason that more and more weatherproof digital cameras are coming out on the market. Consumers are taking their digital cameras mountain biking, climbing, swimming, boating, and other adventures. Even less adventurous outings pose some danger to the average digital camera: playgroups, school functions, dances, clubs, etc. The GE A830 seems a step behind in terms of its construction. Its plastic body has two open ports on the left side. This leaves the camera’s insides exposed to sand, dust, water, and just about anything else – thus dramatically increasing the camera’s chances of becoming damaged.

The AV/USB port is at the top and the DC-in port sits just below it. The camera comes with USB 2.0 and AV-out cables, but the DC-in power adapter cable is not included. The AV function can be set to NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu. The USB mode must also be adjusted in the Setup menu to PC, PC (PTP), or Printer depending on what the camera is being connected to.

Direct Print Options (6.0)
The GE A830 can print images to PictBridge-compatible printers via the USB cable. Its DPOF version 1.1 allows users to scroll through images and select ones for printing and then select 0 to 9 images to be printed. This information is stored in a print order that can then be reset if needed. This is done through the Playback menu’s DPOF option.

Battery (2.0)
The GE A830 comes with two AA alkaline batteries that don’t last long. The published specs claim a 100-shot lifetime, but ours only made it to 71 before dying. Those specs are by CIPA standards, though our pictures were taken between sessions of viewing menus and playing with features. The battery life is terrible, but to its credit the AA batteries are more convenient to find on vacation than a specialized lithium-ion battery.

The batteries fit into a flimsy door at the bottom that looks and feels like it could snap off at any moment and will probably be the first thing to break on this camera.

This camera has an open DC-in port that accepts a 3.3-volt power adaptor, but that is an optional purchase from GE.

Memory (3.75)
With 26 MB of internal memory, this digital camera is above average in this area. It can hold six pictures at the best 8-megapixel image quality. Users beware, though --- the user manual warns that movies recorded to the internal memory are subject to degradation. This is quite true. Videos on the internal memory have trouble playing back, and the video stutters and pauses about every two seconds in Playback mode. The GE A830 accepts SD and SDHC media up to 4 GB in the same compartment where the batteries fit.

In the Setup menu, users can format images and transfer them from the internal memory to the memory card.

Other features (5.0)
Voice Memo – In Playback mode, users can add up to 60 seconds of audio to each image by pushing the shutter release button while viewing the image. The WAVE-formatted monaural audio isn’t crystal clear, but it sounds okay when the photographer is speaking right next to the microphone. This feature is helpful for users who want a few notes about pictures.

Panorama Stitching – The GE A830 has a Panorama mode located directly on the mode dial. While many compact digital cameras have Panorama modes, not many cameras stitch the pictures together in the camera. The A830 helps users line up three images by showing a translucent sliver of the previously taken image on one edge. Once three pictures are taken, the camera takes a second or two to stitch the pictures together into a single 3696 x 998-pixel image.