HOT HOT HOT...HP 215 photosmart camera for 99.99 COMPUSA B&M

[Taligent]

I called the north Austin compusa store and asked if I should've received a free 32mb card with the camera - surprisingly, they said yes, and that I could come in and pick it up. Thirty minutes later I'm out with a Lexar 32mb card with their USB reader (Jumpshot). $199 camera + $59 card for ~$110 is a good deal.

Jumpshot is really useful for directly browsing images on the card from windows explorer (or finder). It's a pain to continuously use the TWAIN driver to download images and then be forced to recompress. Also, not using the camera to download keeps the batteries useful for a while longer. Latest drivers for the Jumpshot are at http://www.digitalfilm.com.

Rechargeables are not recommended, possibly because the camera's circuitry is sensitive to the different voltage and drop-off curves. That said, I'm still going to try out using a decent quality NiMH cell and see how it fares in the camera. Alkalines are just too expensive to keep feeding this thing, and very unfriendly to the environment.

If you can't get the 32mb card for some reason, you can still save battery power by using an AC adapter. HP will kindly sell you one for only $50...but DigiPower also makes an adapter for the HP cameras. *Bay it for around $20, or check around your favorite electronics store for an adapter that'll put out 6V, 2 amps (2000ma). The center pin is positive, when setting polarity.

 

[Cyberian]

<< . I don't care about mail-in rebates b/c I always end up spending the money on something else anyways so it's not really like I'm getting it off the camera. >>



Could you just get the $40 Rebate and mail it to me?
I'll send you a SASE!

 

[jrichrds]

I've read on the net of at least a half a dozen people using rechargeables with this camera without a problem. I haven't seen anyone say using rechargeables messed up their 215.

 

[DoobieOnline]

Thanks for the post Taligent! I'll hike back up there with my receipt in the morning and see if I they will give me the CF.

 

[AppleVision1710]

Well, no luck here at my local CompUSA. They keep saying the free CF card is only for the cameras advertised on the center page. Any suggestion? Thanks in advance.

 

[OS]

so is this deal still alive as of today (sunday)?

 

[HappyFace]

I'm pretty sure that the deal ended yesterday.

 

[Wei2Cool]

Yes this is a nation-wide deal. Corporate sent out an email asking the stores to replace 210 with 215.

 

[HappyFace]

<< Yes this is a nation-wide deal. Corporate sent out an email asking the stores to replace 210 with 215. >>

It was the HP200, not the 210 that was replaced by the HP215.

 

[DoobieOnline]

Well, Taligent got lucky because when I went back to the North Austin store to pick up the 32MB CF, they told me no. Doh! They even pulled out the ad from last week and showed me the cameras that came with the extra CF. Oh well, still a sweet deal

 

[Taligent]

Update on AC adapter - if you need one, Radio Shack now carries a user selectable 3-6.5v, 2500ma adapter aimed at digital cameras. $19.95, online or B&amp;M.

 

[Bugs66]

Does this work on your HP 215 okay? I am concerned because the camera is rated for 6v-2000mAh. I know that mAh stands for endurance but I have heard of 215s getting fried.

 

[Bugs66]

Incidentally, I am using the Rayovac 1600mAh NIMH rechargables that are widely available at stores like Walmart. No problems!

 

[unclebud]

OutlawWolf, if you're listening, you should email CompUsa's website RIGHT NOW and tell them what happened, as it clearly was a memo sent out to ALL the Compusa stores to substitute that camera, as per HP's request. i feel bad that i got the camera (and returned it--coworker was shamming) and hooked up another guy here who was prepared to buy the demo and you didn't get it(i have benefitted from one of your posts).
My location is and the manager there is a jerk also--so if i got it, you should have too
the sooner you move on this the better
gl

 

[Taligent]

The extra capacity of the adapter won't pose a problem for the camera. I don't own an adapter because I really don't need one - the usb reader takes care of the worst power drains. It's just a judgement call for the adapter - it's a choice between getting a $20 reader or the $20 adapter...