HP Photosmart M527

The HP Photosmart M527 rounds out the top end of the newly introduced M-series offered by HP at CES 2006. A point-and-shoot at heart, the camera comes with a 6 megapixel CCD, a 2-inch LCD, a 3x optical zoom lens and a number of features which will allow in-camera editing of images prior to printing or publishing on the HP Snapfish website. Connectivity to Snapfish allows owners to upload images onto the internet, and then invite members and guests who may view the owner’s images free of charge (though there is a monthly fee for those uploading images to the site). The M527 also offers an immense number of in-camera help features, so users shouldn’t feel overwhelmed or lost by the unfamiliar options. Though there are limited manual controls available, this is mostly an automatic model. And while the M527 does not possess a physically innovative design, the external features are well placed and the controls are intuitively positioned for immediate access. If price is a big concern, aesthetics aren’t tantamount and simplicity is essential; the M527 provides some compelling reasons for a second look.