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Submitted by
Gleep
a Cross Country RiderDate Reviewed: April 25, 2013
Strengths: Small and light and full of bite!Weaknesses: The manual that comes in the box rots, this is true. I downloaded the PDF manual - much better. It says there is a Firmware Update Button in the software. I didn't see it. The Helmet mount directions on how to weave the strap and clip the clips,,, you're a better man than me Gunga Din!Bottom Line: I couldn't give it a higher rating because I just received it the day before yesterday. I love this camera so far. The video is outstanding and the fish-eye like lens captures it all. Everyone is different, but I think the choppiness that people are referring to is from trying to play the video file while it is still on the camera. Like trying to play a video on the internet, if the flow is slow, then the playback is cached. Move the file from the camera to the computer's hard drive and play it from there. I too was flustered until I moved the file.
Favorite Trail: Erie Canal
Bike Setup: Road Bike and Off Road Bike
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Submitted by
Quasi
a Weekend WarriorDate Reviewed: March 2, 2013
Strengths: Looks good
Comes in a fancy plastic box fit for an Oscar trophy.Weaknesses: Unit I received does not work as it is supposed to.
It makes nice short videos, but locks up with anything longer than five minutes.
Bottom Line: So I received my XS100 two days ago and it may be a one-off defective unit, but I get the feeling it is basically an unreliable camera. My unit is totally useless as it locks up in video recording mode after five minutes. It wont power down and it wont stop recording. I have to punch the reset button with the tip of a paperclip and the subsequent video file on the micro SD card is useless. I have used two Micro SD Cards -- a 32 GB Unirex Class 10 card and a 32 GB Sandisk Class 10 card -- No difference. I have formatted them with the SD formatter put out by the SD card group. This camera is cheaper than a GoPro, but it costs more than a paper weight -- so there is no excuse.
I have not dealt with Polaroid's customer support on this yet. For the last two days I thought I was doing something wrong and had to try different approaches before I was sure it was the unit causing the problem and not the operator.
I have my doubts as to whether Polaroid customer support will be much help. I bought this from the Polaroidstore.com and they charge $25 for shipping and you find this out until after entering your credit card number. After you order, they will not cancel your order even if the unit hasnt shipped yet. So if you want to take your chances on this camera, go with another source, there are many good retailers carrying it. So besides poor customer service, Polaroid also has a pretty crappy manual that comes with the unit -- so the learning curve will be days long.
There is a newer and more useful manual online but it is wrong in at least one instance -- it says to use the software which came with the camera (a polaroid.exe file that the camera writes to your SD card) and "3. Click the 'Firmware Check' button". Now, if they actually had a "firmware check" button in their software, this would be useful. BUT THERE IS NO SUCH BUTTON IN THE SOFTWARE!!
My sense is that Polaroid is just a marketing company trying to market a unit which contains pretty high quality hardware, but lacking in quality firmware glue to hold it together. There are just too many things wrong with this unit that "could" be fixed by firmware. If they could be fixed in firmware, why didnt Polaroid have the proper firmware in it to begin with? I suspect it is because they dont know what they are doing, they are just a marketing company and the expertise to make the right firmware is "elseware". :) So I really doubt they will come through and fix this product with proper firmware, that would cost money and cut into profits which are probably pretty low seeing as the hardware is pretty high quality. I suppose it could be a hardware problem with my unit. If it is, then I will certainly add a new review and try to have this one removed. Until then, you have been warned.
Duration Product Used: 3 days
Price Paid:
$165.00
Purchased At: polaroidstore.com
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher 293
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