I just returned a Hewlett-Packard 618 digital still camera because I could not get to download images to my Dell Dimension 8100 1.3 Gig computer. The HP folks said there was an issue with "low voltage" with the Intel 82801 BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller in my computer and strongly recommedned I get a self-powered USB hub. I did, and even got a CompactFlash card reader and neither fixed the problem. When I would try to download images from my camera, I would get a number of error messages including,"You have unplugged of ejected a device without stopping it...", or "The Wizard can't continue because the camera has been disconnected..." or the computer would crash!.

I worked with the Dell Resolution Assistance folks and they could not resolve the problem and denied there was any issue with the Intel USB hubs. H-P said the HP-618 camera was not the only camera on the market that was having problems with the Dell 8100 computer.

Botom line, make sure the digital camera you buy is compatible with your computer!

I returned the H-P camera to Circuit City.

BTW, the H-P folks do NOT have a toll free number to address camera problems, they do have an e-mail assistance but told me to telephone them so they could better run tests with my camera, "On MY nickel!"