|
|
 Larger image
|
List Price: $29.99
Our Price: $14.99
You Save: $ 15.00 (50%)
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Labtec
|
Average Customer Rating:   
|
|
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Labtec
EAN: 0097855022141
Feature: Still image capture up to 1280 x 960
Format: CD
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Labtec
Manufacturer: Labtec
Model: 961358-0403
Platform: Windows 2000
Publisher: Labtec
Studio: Labtec
Warranty: 1 year warranty
|
|
|
Features
|
Still image capture up to 1280 x 960
Video capture up to 640 x 480
Manual focus lens, snapshot button, LED
Up to 30 frames per second
Built-in microphone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Labtec WebCam Pro Tethered CMOS VGA Internet digital camera with built-in microphone, snapshot button and activity LED. Includes still image, video, video mail, video chat and motion detection software. Includes WebCam Pro with USB cable and custom slotted base for precise positioning, Getting Started Guide and software CD. Focus Ring - easy manual focus adjustment Works with popular video enabled Instant Messengers (IM) applications including MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger Capture video up to VGA (640 x 480) resolution Capture still images up to 1 Megapixel (1280 x 960, software interpolated) resolution. Up to 30 frames per second video frame rate Video and still image capture with e-mail compatibility MAPI compliant V-Mail and also exclusive one click compatibility with AOL Auto brightness and hue control settings Includes Labtec WebCam software, Video Conference Software (Microsoft NetMetting), User Guide, USB Cable
|
|
|
| Spotlight customer reviews: |
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: couldn't expect more for the money
Comment: I was expecting a lot less when I got this, but it's a great product. Super easy to use, the picture's not perfect but it's damn good considering it's $30. My place is low lit and I don't have a problem with the picture- sometimes if I turn the lights in my room up and down, it doesn't adjust entirely, but if I replug it in it's fine- and the program only takes 2 seconds to load straight to camera view. Great investment
Customer Rating:
Summary: Did not work properly.
Comment: Bad Audio!!! I bought this so I could video/Chat with my friend in Norway using Skype. It was nothing but a frustration. The sound cut in and out and most of the time I could not be heard by the person I was chatting with. I replaced it with a Logitech and the Logitech works perfect!
Customer Rating:
Summary: I am happy with Labtec WebCam Pro
Comment: I am happy with my purchace so far. I think I got what I paid for. Nothing particularly good or bad about it to say so far.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Comment: Ive had this webcam for atleast 3 yras, I have never had a problem with it at all. Great cam for the price.
Customer Rating:
Summary: If you can install it, it's fair enough.
Comment: I'm going to slightly deviate from the rest of these reviews and offer further information that I was unable to find when I purchased this webcam.
First of all, I have several computers with different operating systems. I installed this cam on both Windows Vista 32 bit and Windows XP 32 bit w/SP 2. That said, the webcam installed fine on XP, but Vista was definitely a problem.
The Vista Problem:
Initially I attempted to use the CD that came with the cam to install, but that didn't work at all. I then had to go to labtec.com to download the installation software specifically for Vista, which was fair enough. I tried to install that, but the microphone refused to work. I went to the website to view their FAQ's and none of their answers or "troubleshooting help" were correct. They try to blame it on the system or your sound card or anything but their software. I happened to know the sound and everything worked perfectly on that brand new computer. I rebooted several times, all to no avail. Finally I uninstalled and reinstalled. The mic then worked, but all the settings were greyed out. I rebooted twice more and finally it worked properly. It was a pain, but I did manage to install it and have it work properly.
The Support Problem:
In addition to the fact that the both the FAQ at Labtec and the Help files are insufficient, the "manual" is no actual manual. It's a Quick Install Guide and that's it. The guide even says, "After launching the Webcam software, go to the online help for simple step-by-step instructions for using your camera." If you have to resort to Labtec support, then you're out of luck as the site not only does not offer a way to contact support online. Sure, the email link is there, but it only takes you to the FAQ. I tried contacting the webmaster, but that email bounced immediately. There is no hope for online support at all, unless you want questions answered that have nothing at all to do with the problem.
The Webcam Itself:
Finally on to the actual cam. After jumping through what seemed like an endless number of hoops, it works fair enough. Because I cannot get help, I've not yet discovered the secret to the "motion detection" feature it promises. There appears to be no option in the regular user interface (the settings dialog boxes). A search of the Help files has zero results and the manual (more appropriately titled Installation Guide) has no mention of the motion detection software whatsoever.
I've never owned a cam before, but the picture quality is fair. It's not outstanding, but if you plan to use it on a personal level (chatting, personal videos, etc.) it should be good enough. The sound can be problematic, but it will work if you put your mind to it.
If you're lucky enough to install it without any problems, then it's really easy to use, except for the elusive Motion Detection feature. You just click and it works. I've even tested it with Yahoo Instant Messenger and the cam does launch, but I've not yet tried to see if anyone can see and hear it clearly. If it is indeed a problem, or if I discover/solve any further problems, I will reply to this review with a comment.
Overall, if I had to do it all over again, I'd likely not purchase this particular cam for a Windows Vista computer. As for XP, if I knew that the motion detection feature either didn't exist as promised, or would be this hard to figure out, I'm not entirely sure I'd purchase it for that operating system either.
My Star System for this review:
+* For actually mostly working on XP
+* For finally mostly working on Vista
-* For difficult installation.
-* For lack of sufficient tech support / help files.
-* For lack of motion detection feature
Be sure to check the comments to see if any of this has changed or been updated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
