Turning your PC into a microscope. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. Intel created one of the best science toys around for kids with its QX3 Plus Computer Microscope. It delivers a lot of power and some interesting tools for about a hundred dollars. Even though Intel has decided to stop making consumer devices, you can still find it in lots of retail stores. And now, there is another microscope available that also plugs into a USB port. It's called the ProScope. Peter White of Bodelin Distribution... says it is selling well in a number of markets...

"It's number one use is science education K through 12 as well as the university level, our number two buyer of it is law enforcement. Crime scene investigators, ballistics, forensics. Even the INS bought 500 and they use them for document fraud and identity theft. We also are very big with coin collectors, stamp collectors and people who sell gems. But you know the biggest buyer of ProScope is the general public who have no legitimate use for it whatsoever."

Except to have fun. The device looks like the tool a doctor uses to examine your ears... and allows you to snap a digital image of what you're looking at with the press of a button. With a fifty power lens it sells for 229 dollars at www.theproscope.com. Lenses up to 200 power are available as well. It works with both PCs and Macs. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.