Mustek drops the uber-cheap 8 megapixel MDC-832Z

So Mustek is dropping a new cheaper than dirt compact camera, the 8 megapixel MDC-832Z, which rings in at $250 and is a followup to their 830Z shooter. Unfortunately, while the new camera does add 30 fps VGA recording as opposed to the 20 fps of the 830Z, the 832Z packs a mere 2-inch LCD, shaving off a half inch of screen and with it we're sure a few dollars. Obviously you're better off with a 4-6 megapixel camera that actually has the optics to handle its resolution, but if it's more more more megapixels for you, then the 832Z might be one of your cheapest options yet.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

[Shaun @ Feb 17th 2006 12:58PM]

Drops????

So are they making one or what? I take it 'drops' means something other than 'ceases to continue manufacturing' in USAian rather than English.

[stephen @ Feb 17th 2006 1:22PM]

"drops" in USA'ian means "comes up with" or "brings"

for instance, if 4 people wanted to buy a $20 pizza, we would all drop $5 each.

[Jiggabyte @ Feb 17th 2006 1:26PM]

Between yesterday's "Apple drops 10.4.5" post and this one, I think Engadget should "drop" Paul Miller if he continues the improper usage of the word. It's confusing, unprofessional, and a lousy gimmick.

[Mouthy @ Feb 17th 2006 2:53PM]

Jeez, the Engadget guys are just being hip to that hip hop jargon, as in "Peep my new record on Rock-a-fella - it drops next week, fo shizzle."

Personally, I like that Engadget is not all formal and Wall Street Journal Style Guide in their writing. Let's just hope they draws the line at including "my nizzle" in their USA'ian. Word.

[Greg @ Feb 17th 2006 3:15PM]

There was nothing unprofessional about Paul Miller's comments. I would like to think that you are intelligent enough to know when he said "drop", that the camera didn't suddenly fall and hit the floors of the Engadget office. If we live in an age where individuals can call themselves "Jiggabyte" by putting a spin on a technical term using the same culture from which "drop" the phrase came from, then we can with the hypocrisy and let the man do his job without talks of his removal...na mean?!?

[DM @ Feb 17th 2006 3:32PM]

Hell yeah... I had to read the article word-for-word just to figure out if they are discontinuing it or manufacturing it...

Not that I really care about the product :-P, but please engadget...proper usage of words please???

[Shaun @ Feb 17th 2006 3:49PM]

The other recent phrase that's annoying is 'harshing'. WTF does that mean? Which school of journalism is it that allows creating new adjectives just by adding -ing to the end of a word?

I don't know why they don't just publish all their articles in TXT SP3AK and be done with it. Or is that what the new mobile edition is for? Or am I harshing on their crew before it drops?

[Shaun @ Feb 17th 2006 4:08PM]

And shouldn't there be an umlaut on the u in ? ?

Or is expecting them to get their German right just too much?

[no3rdw @ Feb 17th 2006 4:52PM]

Greg, that's not the point. Yes, 'Drops' could mean releasing the object to the floor, but that's not what the rest of the comments are about. It could also mean 'discontinues' or, in this case 'provides/releases'.

Since it is it's own antonym, in this case it could be confusing based only on the subject alone. Once you start reading the article it's made clear though.

[Zuhair @ Feb 17th 2006 4:56PM]

"6. The other recent phrase that's annoying is 'harshing'. WTF does that mean? Which school of journalism is it that allows creating new adjectives just by adding -ing to the end of a word?"

Have all of you forgotten that this is a blog, not the NY Times? Cut them slack.

[xplicit @ Feb 17th 2006 5:01PM]

You guys really are illiterate. Or maybe im to hood side =p, at any rate. When they use that term they are not refering to droping the idea. What they are using is called slang, have you heard of it? Yea slang appeals to the younger generation, wait cheap, slang? Wow what a concept to try to market to the younger generation! "4. drop:
to release an album to the public.the new jay-z dropped last week."
So dont talk shit about the writers until you know what your talking about, besides these articles have to go under review before being posted im sure.

[Billy Helfrich @ Feb 17th 2006 6:16PM]

I too had to read this article more than once because to me the word Drop would imply Discontinuing or stop making. I guess I'm not Hip anymore if I can't understand the slang.

[cmon @ Feb 17th 2006 7:15PM]

let's all drop this line of conversation and talk about the gadget.

[Andre @ Feb 17th 2006 8:30PM]

You guys are so prude.

So is this "mustek" a reliable company? I'd consider getting it if it were.

[Cassie @ Feb 17th 2006 8:38PM]

Umm. The term "drop" did seem confusing. Like they are dropping it because it sucks, or it just came out to the public. Maybe this Paul guy needs a thesaurus or somthing.

[Billy Helfrich @ Feb 17th 2006 10:15PM]

Mustek is a reliable manufacturer of Electronics such as Scanners and Cameras. I've used their products for years and they seem to be OK.
Butyou never know,they may just Drop the Ball with this one.
;-)

[Billy Helfrich @ Feb 17th 2006 10:19PM]

Mustek is a very reliable manufacturer of electronics such as Scanners and Cameras. I've used their products for years and they seem OK.
But you never know, they just might Drop the Ball with this one.
;-)

[Rozan @ Feb 18th 2006 12:20AM]

The word drop is rather confusing. I was sure by reading the headline that musetek was discontinuing the product. Consider the fact that not everyone of Engadget's readers are from the US.

[Michiel @ Feb 18th 2006 7:20AM]

The critical thing with these cheap digital cameras is that they do not have the proper lens to make use of all those megapixels.

It's not just the name that makes a Sony digicam (Zeiss lens) more expensive. A lens costs a lot of money, often more than the little box that contains the megapixelthingy.

So get a P&S with a proper lens. You can get a second hand Sony or Panasonic (Leica lens) for about the same price as this Mustek (I checked on ebay).

Really, go after the hype and the megapixels and you'll be dissapointed. It takes a lot more to make a camera pleasant to use and produce proper results.

[Darius @ Feb 20th 2006 12:00AM]

In the words of Colbert, we're all ignoring the truthiness of this situation.

Cheers,
Darius