Polaroid's CGA-02540 provides ClickFree backup for photos

For those aclimated just enough with technology to understand the basic functions of a point-and-shoot, but not intelligent enough to utilize a "My Pictures" folder or understand the concept of "one-touch backup," Polaroid's CGA-02540 is coming to the rescue. Designed for those who basically have a self-induced BSOD whenever they touch a mouse or keyboard, this 2.5-inch 40GB backup drive is programmed to work specifically (read: only) with photo files, and requires absolutely zero clicks to sniff around one's HDD, locate newly uploaded files, and backup only the latest pictures while leaving the originals in tact and in place. The ClickFree unit is so simple, in fact, that there's not even a single button on the enclosure, and if your PC sports a powered USB port, you won't even need to figure out how to utilize an AC adapter. Of course, clueless Mac users will certainly be in a quandary when trying to figure out why their machine isn't running "Windows XP or 2000," and we highly doubt 40GB is enough "for a lifetime of photographs," but nevertheless, the CGA-02540 should be available for purchase sometime this quarter for a currently undisclosed price.

[Via EverythingUSB]

[Victor Cornelius @ Jan 14th 2007 8:21PM]

That seems pretty useless. No wonder Polaroid is a failing company

[Ricardo @ Jan 14th 2007 8:40PM]

Unless your a professional photographer (altho i highly doubt a professional photographer to be technologically inept) then why the hell would you need this useless thing

[fmaxwell @ Jan 14th 2007 9:04PM]

"Unless your a professional photographer (altho i highly doubt a professional photographer to be technologically inept) then why the hell would you need this useless thing"

You clearly are not a photographer. A pro photographer shooting in RAW mode on a modern DSLR camera can fill a 4GB Compact Flash card in under 200 shots. A photo shoot can end up being thousands of shots. So what's he supposed to do when he's in the field without access to an AC outlet, much less a computer? Pack up and go home after 200 photos?

Laptops and PCs are great if your idea of photography is something done on Christmas morning with a point-and-shoot, but if you're a pro, you need a way to transfer images off of your camera's flash memory when you're in the field.

[fmaxwell @ Jan 14th 2007 9:12PM]

OKAY, I SHOULD HAVE READ THE ARTICLE. I'M AN IDIOT.

I thought you plugged your camera into the device and it transferred images from your camera (like the Apple iPod camera adapter).

I'll agree with everyone else that this devices, as described, is useless.

[Scooter @ Jan 15th 2007 4:38AM]

much like the Maxtor 1-Touch and other idiot-focused items. The girl in that vid is so lame. Love how she manages to look initially confused at the start, when holding the USB plug. Since it comes with software, its target market will probably not negotiate their way out of the box.

[Aaron @ Jan 15th 2007 10:59AM]

Uhhh... so who exactly is this for? Someone smart enough to think "I wonder when my internal hard drive is going to fail" but retarded enough to not be able to figure out the software for a backup drive? I don't think there's much of a market there, unless they're trying to create one by scaring people into thinking their computer WILL die no matter what. I agree that this would be infinitely more useful if it served as a storage device for your camera and then perhaps copied pictures back and forth between your computer.

I'm wondering why they don't sell things like this for general use, not just photos. It's not very big and holds a hell of a lot more than a thumbdrive.

[austinpowers @ Jan 16th 2007 11:01AM]

I think you guys should take a closer look at the product. I did a little more reading on this puppy and it is an interesting idea. Basically, you plug it into your computer and it backs up your photos. You don't have to install any software or press any buttons, which would be good for the "I don't write my e-mails in binary" crowd, AKA my wife. In fact, I think I've just come up with a reason to engage in a little frivolous spending...