The Philips VG780052 Digital Voice Tracer is more than just a voice recorder. Its 4 MB of RAM can store any type of file--not simply voice recordings--and when plugged into a notebook computer's Type III PCMCIA slot, it is recognized as a 4 MB hard drive. We can imagine a time when gadgets like the Philips VT780052 Digital Voice Tracer will be truly useful, but right now there are far superior and less expensive devices for capturing short voice recordings. The device is a PCMCIA card with a plastic case, built-in speaker and microphone, and controls on the front for making quick recordings. The Digital Voice Tracer is designed to be used with a notebook computer and works fairly well in that regard. Adding and removing files is straightforward, but unfortunately this device isn't the solution for people who need to transfer files from a notebook computer to a desktop PC, as most desktop systems don't have PCMCIA slots.
Philips is banking on the fact that people will use the Digital Voice Tracer to send their voice messages via e-mail attachments, but the technology is ill-suited for this purpose. This product records WAV files, which are notorious for their storage inefficiency. The designers tried to get around this by using more efficient 8,000 Hz, 4-bit mono WAV recordings, and it doesn't work well. Those settings require only 4 Kbps of memory for storage, but the sound quality is abysmal. Couple that with the device's tiny, weak speaker and it's nearly impossible to hear the recording without holding the device close to your ear, unless you happen to be in a room that is completely silent. Piping the sound through your PC's speakers helps, but does nothing to improve the sound quality.
The Digital Voice Tracer is useful in certain circumstances, but we feel its concept is ahead of its time. Until products with better sound quality and more memory are available, a standard minicassette recorder still is the best way to quickly capture your thoughts, and typing your e-mail still is the ideal way to communicate via a computer. --T. Byrl Baker
Pros:
- Extremely compact
- PCMCIA interface features are a nice touch
- Includes a nice carrying case
Cons: - Minimal documentation
- Poor sound quality
- Doesn't interface with a desktop PC
