It’s retro! It’s tiny! It’s only got 8MB of internal memory! is the short n’ sweet of the Aiptek PocketCam Classic (Aiptek’s site uses frames, so head for their official site if you’d like to get the full page skinny on the device). Like many of Aiptek’s other products, the PocketCam Classic functions as a digital still camera, digital camcorder, and web cam. It also takes 640×480 pictures in BMP format and shoots video in AVI (via software, whatever that means). There’s no screen to speak of except for a 3-digit LCD readout, and it unfortunately doesn’t support external media, so 8MB is all you’re gonna get with this baby.

Retro chic enough for the common hipsterYou might be wondering why we’re even bothering to show this gadget off when we’ve done nothing but highlight its shortcomings. Maybe it’s because we still think it’s cool, or maybe we like the idea of giving outdated technology a second look. Personally I think it’s because I skipped my meds this morning, but that’s just a hunch. Anyway, Aiptek is selling the PocketCam Classic for a paltry $20 along with a free carrying case, cap, and 6-inch stuffed toy bear decked out in Christmas duds.

I think this gift would be perfect for exposing little kids to the joy of photography without burning a hole in your wallet. And if they eventually tire of the photog biz and decide to give up this hobby, you’ll have a smaller and cheaper bit of memorabilia to throw on top of the growing pile of baseball bats, football helmets, ice skating shoes, chemistry kits, magician’s props, and ballet tights that represent your failure as a parent. Isn’t child-rearing fun?