Intel Play & Digital Blue
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 Intel Play line of educational toys from 1999 to 2002 |
About the Intel Play QX3 USB Digital Microscope
These Digital Microscopes are an affordable way to start viewing and capturing close-up images of the circuitry on your computer chips and other items without spending a fortune on a high-end Educational Microscope!
They are made to conveniently plug into your Desktop or Laptop computer via the USB port.
The Intel "Play" brand of USB Digital Microscopes are no longer being made.
Fortunately there are quite a few (new and used) available for sale on Amazon & eBay that remain an affordable option for hobbyists and educators.
New models of affordable USB Digital microscopes are now available to consumers offering many choices and price ranges. Popular choices include Digital Blue's QX7, as well as others notable models from brands like Celestron, Plugable, AGPTek, Amscope, Neewer & Welltop.
 The Intel Microscope's Quick start guide |
 Intel Play QX3 USB Microscope |
Intel Play QX3 Microscope Free Windows Drivers & Guides:
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Intel QX3 USB Microscope Users Guide (PDF) : 
Intel QX3 USB Microscope Activity Book (PDF) :
Intel QX3 USB Microscope Driver for Windows (EXE) : 
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VIDEO: Using the Intel Play QX3 Digital Microscope
Intel & Mattel produced the
"Intel Play" USB Digital Microscopes
from 1999 to 2002
The Intel Play QX3 Computer Microscope was developed as the result of a creative partnership between computer chip giant Intel and the innovative toy designer Mattel. Having a $100 price point, this electronic video toy was Intel's attempt at entering the science education market using optics, digital imaging, and the latest computer technology at the time.
The QX3 microscope connected easily to a Windows based PC via it's USB cable which also powered the microscope and its lighting. It featured 10x/60x/200x lenses and had both upper and lower adjustable lighting and focus height adjustment. The microscope could be removed from its base stand allowing it to be used as a hand-held microscope. The microscope came with software that enabled the user to snap images, make time lapse movies, import and export images, lighting control, and image effects and titling.
The microscope used a CMOS CIF sensor - ideal for use in a microscope that focuses on a small image area. CIF resolution is 352x288 pixels, but the microscope software only uses a central region of interest (ROI) of the image - 320x240 pixels to be exact. The image is interpolated to 512x384 pixel resolution for display in the Microscope software's Live View window. The microscope used optical (not digital) magnification.
Digital Blue QX5 / QX7
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Digital Blue QX5 Microscope Free Windows Drivers & Guides:
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Digital Blue QX5 USB Microscope Users Guide (PDF):
Digital Blue QX5 USB Microscope Driver for Windows (ZIP) : 
Digital Blue QX5 USB Microscope Driver for Windows x64 (ZIP):
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 CPU Computer Chip magnified 60X |
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