Early attempts at webcam conversations
always left me laughing, watching someone in a tiny window on my laptop
doing a max headroom impression never really made sense and I even ended up
on the phone for decent audio! So hardly a useable business tool or is it?
 You have an internet connection its always on yes? its
now quite fast? ADSL is 512k down and 250k up! so lets get this right you
make business phone calls when you could have a webcam conversation instead?
programmes with MSN messenger and Yahoo YM are common
place but you don't even need them as windows XP will allow a direct PC - PC
connection to share your cam pictures and audio, so the only tricky issue is
which cam? For once resolution isn't an issue as long as you aren't expecting
to take stills with your cam as well (we'd recommend against this).
Logitech have been at the forefront of
webcam
technology for quite some time and regularly win best buys in computing
magazines, the quickcam series offers a slightly raised spec and a more
toughened enclosure, but you do have to bear in mind webcams are built to
price its a cut throat market. The sphere gives VGA resolution of 640 x 480
pixels and can cope with refresh rates of 30 fps (frames per second) and
connects to your PC via USB. A new add on is the rather funky face tracking
system that keeps you centred on screen by moving the camera through 180
degrees within the sphere housing, ideal for the more animated webcam user.
 Compatible with windows 2K and XP plus Mac OS®
10.1.5+ and using USB 2.0 or 1.1 Logitech have spent time
ensuring it works seamlessly with MSN messenger as they see the MS software
as the weapon of choice.
The sphere also takes stills at up to 1.3 mega pixels
has a digital zoom and can send photo emails with one click but all this is
secondary to its style, quite simply it makes other cams look very dull, its
a mix of a digital python crossed with a triffid, in matt black it certainly
has that big brother thing going on. Is it following me? or it is my
imagination!
This is the webcam for fashion conscious gadgeteers.
More Peripheral reviews-
[ Logitech Quickcam Sphere ] [ Linksys WVC200 Review ] [ Logitech Quickcam Laptop Webcam ]
|
