Hello
I am inundated with requests to view the webcam which I haven't got... I think it is time for me to buy one but there are so many out in the market and with so vast a price range that I am totally confused. What should I be looking for? I know I would like my cam to send a clear image and sound and I would also like to use it to record a video for my profile but FPS, resolution, and privacy button options baffle me.
If you can, please give me an idea what cam to be looking out for (I use a laptop, if that makes any difference, running on Windows XP). I don't want to ask a salesman's advice as it is guaranteed he'll make me walk out with the most expensive cam they've got!
Thanks in advance
I am not well versed with webcams myself BUT, before spending any money you may be able to use what you have. If you have a Digital Camcorder (DV) you could probably hook this upto your laptop and use that, Or if you have a digital camera use that. Have seen a few of those tout "webcam" as a feature.
May not solve your situation but if you already have them, doesn't hurt to look and see if you already have one, just in a different guise.
HTH
We got ours from a well known hypermarket- all the bigger supermarkets seem to sell them and have them for as little as a tenner to around £40- ours was £20 and does the job perfectly!
One installation CD, plug it in to USB and pull it out when you want (that's our privacy button!).
The only problem being it doesn't have a microphone and neither does our lap top, and the number of people that keep saying 'can you swith your sound on' in the chat rooms begins to get v annoying!
Don't know any brand names or anything - i'm sure someone will pm you with them, but we think ours is perfectly good quality seeing as we bought it as a trial before spending money on a decent one - and have found we don't need to get another one!
M&D xx
Here is something that is quite important........
If you have usb2 ports on your pc then try to get a usb2 camera as they might be a little faster and clearer.
If you only have usb1 ports on your pc then make sure you only get a usb1 cam or it can give you a bad image.
You can use a usb1 cam on usb2 ports though and it will as fast as the cam will go but not as good as a usb 2 cam as usb2 has a lot higher bandwidth.
.............................
Your best to look for one that has at least 1/2 megapixle image and one thats got 24fps or higher is nice also.
A privacy button isn't really needed, if you you don't want someone viewing or hearing you, just turn it of lol.
One that has a little button on the top to take pictures with is also good to... not all have this so its worth checking.
Quite usually ( but not always ) you might find if you pay a tenna or less, the image becomes quite grainy if the lighting is poor.
Hope this helps a little
Shaz x
Alright some good pointers there! Phil osopher I do not feel obliged to show myself to anyone but I have made a couple of friends in the chatrooms and it would be fun to see each other. Also I am going abroad soon and it will be very lonely there so I might need some cam action to relieve my boredom... ;)
I am going to kill someone today. They told me the cam had built in mike. They told me so from Philips, too. Now they say it does not and they are sorry. But the shop won't give me my money back because the box was opened and the device used. ARGGGGH!
Thanks Mal. I will do so but I am at a loss what to replace this cam with as there aren't many cams that are good for laptop usage. I wonder whether it is not better to keep this one and just use the old mike. I am waiting for someone who saw the cam yesterday to tell me how today's cam compares to it so I can make a decision.
Tania
I got 10 mins if your about now
IN EDIT
Sorry no time now i be back on at half tennish.
Sent u a PM
There's not much point in this webcam chatting. It is either men whispering their dirty needs to you or men who would never come out and play despite seeming ever so eager. I don't feel satisfied, I want to live life, not experience it second-hand through a computer screen and keyboard. I am going to rest now to be in good spirits for tomorrow's social.
Danem both my webcams installed in minutes and were working without problems. The Logitech one was a bit more complicated to start using than the Philips. Both manuals had clear instructions in a step by step manner.
I am sorry your webcam has given you so much grief tonight but try to speak to Curry's with their 6.5 minute 'press one now' 'press two now' menu only to hear they cannot help you and you should go to the store. I told the idiot on the phone that my receipt said 'you've been served by X. For any enquiries regarding your purchase, ring .... and ask to speak to assistant No. Y' Blooming call centres! And of course they are making money by keeping you on hold... I don't know why we take all this crap. At least your supermarket will replace or refund the camera in full. Cheer up!