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| Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000 Win USB |
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List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $47.49
You Save: $ 52.50 (53%)
Availability: In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
Manufacturer: Microsoft
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Microsoft
Color: Black
EAN: 0882224478144
Feature: Share and swap photos in real time with your friends and family using Windows Live Messenger-right in the video call window!
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Microsoft
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Model: CEA-00001
Publisher: Microsoft
Studio: Microsoft
Warranty: 3 years warranty
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Features
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Share and swap photos in real time with your friends and family using Windows Live Messenger-right in the video call window!
True 2.0 megapixel sensor offering crisp, clear video quality
The built-in microphone automatically picks up your voice with remarkable clarity
Universal Attachment Base, fits on most flatscreens and notebooks, or sits directly on your desk
Get superior video quality with automatic low-light adjustments
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Editorial Reviews:
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With the universal attachment base you can attach the LifeCam to most flatscreens or notebooks, saving space on your desk. With the 2.0 Megapixel sensor, Glass Element and wide angle lens you get a clearer video to send to anyone you want. LifeCam VX-7000 is a clear choice when you need to send out the best video quality. The 71 degree wide angle lens ensures no one gets left out of the picture High Definition 8 Megapixel still Photos Discover a fun way to express yourself with these entertaining video effects built into the LifeCam dashboard System Requirements - Windows XP SP2 or higher, Intel Pentium III 700MHz, 256RAM, 300MB Hard Drive, Video card with 16bit color with 2MB video memory, USB 1.1 USB 2.0 is required for higher than 1.3MP video quality, CD-ROM Drive, Broadband Internet access
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| Spotlight customer reviews: |
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Webcam Available 2008 08
Comment: This webcam has all the capabilities you'd look for, and a very competitive price to boot. Take 7.2 MP photos and record video at 2 MP quality. I'm happy with the purchase.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'm very pleased...
Comment: I bought this webcam to replace an extremely old (circa 1999) Logitech WebCam. Some of the other reviews here indicate that this webcam is junk, but I am very happy with it. Here's a few observations with respect to my own use and some of what I've read in other reviews here.
o Video Quality - I have no problem with it and have yet to have any "freezes". My guess is that freezes are more associated with network latency. I have not tried this over a LAN (very high speed local), but over a cable modem that is 7MBit down, 384k up. You have to take that into account before you blame the webcam. My 384k up is not very fast, for a cable modem, but that's Time Warner for you. Up north (NY/CT area), my peers enjoy 3Mbit upstream! Ugh!
o Software Install Location- Another reviewer brought this up. Who cares? This isn't a 4GB first person shooter, it's a few megs of drivers that mostly need to go under the windows folder anyhow. Non-issue.
o Software Install "eXPerience" - glad to say I had no issues. Install the software, plug in the camera when it asks, and I was good to go. I'm running XP Pro on a 3GHz "single core" (old school? heh) CPU.
o Application Compatibility - It's working great with both Windows Live Messenger and Skype (latest version, 3.8.0.115).
o Built-In Mic - This was a nice surprise for me. I recently purchased a SUB Logitech ClearChat Pro headset, but the built-in mic of this webcam lets me be headset free. I ask everyone I videochat with, can you hear me okay? (Answer: Yes), and do you hear feedback or your voice? (Answer: No). So I am very pleased. Of course, you can set Windows Live Messenger and Skype to use a headset microphone or other device, you don't have to use the built-in mic.
o "The Software" - Okay, the software that comes with the webcam is very basic. But if you want something better, you can get it for free from Microsoft. XP has "Windows Movie Maker" built in, you don't NEED to use the webcam software. Or go install the Windows Media Encoder, that's another free option. I've used both no problem.
In summary, I am very pleased with the performance of the VX-7000. You can record video at 640x480 or 800x600 without problem, and that's pretty good in my opinion. After all, 800x600 is better resolution than DVD video (720x480). If you need more, I don't think you should be looking at a webcam! I think, bottom line, this product is meant for and good at its intended use - video chatting over the internet. I would buy this again.
Customer Rating:
Summary: VX-7000 Webcam -Hi res images low frame rate (over cable modem)
Comment: I'm new to the webcam world but have viewed other webcams. I had high expectations with Microsoft's currently 'best available' webcam. The camera does come through in a few important areas: Image quality is VERY good and auto-focus works great. This cam works great in rooms with low light. The UI (User Interface) is easy and quick to make sense. The only down-side is trade-off between image quality and frame-rate. Keeping moderate quality imaging brings the FR down a little. I've also experienced occasional frozen frames for about 30 - 60 seconds -a little annoying. The interface does allow you to drop resolution for higher frame-rate... Again, it's all about trade-offs!
I do reccomend this webcam!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Too much flicker at high resolution
Comment: This product is complicated to install and operate. Quality is poor for the money. But, the main problem is the problem with flicker. It was difficult, if not impossible, to adjust out the flicker at high resolution. I never succeeded in adjusting it out completely. It was also quirky to install with several error messages during installation.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An absolutely pathetic waste of plastic
Comment: If only I could somehow convey in words the absolute disgust I have with microsoft for charging anything above 15 dollars for this worthless toy. Not only the price, but the advertising on the box which is so misleading it shouldn't even be legal.
It's cute how they say it's video has 2.0 megapixel capability. What they wouldn't tell you is the framerate is so slow it renders this function absolutely useless. I can't even understand how it can be legal to advertise on the box. It's so choppy, grainy, and slow. It's 2.0 megapixel video by name only I assure you. The video function is only smooth at 860 and under.
The audio recording is a joke as well. The feedback is simply horrible, even with my speakers placed about 3 feet away from it (which is by the way beyond the means of most people on their desks). It increases as the camera zooms in as well! In fact it even adds a horrid beeping throughout the audio recording.
Another excellent feature is that it's extremely dark, until you zoom in, in which it adds a much needed lightening, but then it has an annoying beeping sound and terrible feedback. So either you can't see me, or you are stabbing your ears out.
The software is laughable as well. To anyone thinking they would get I daresay useable effects, I hate to let you down. I kid you not here are some of the effects: Bee, Ladybug, Kite, Butterfly, Pizza, Ice Cream. Other than adding these absolutely lame 2-d effects that noone with a strain of dignity would use, the only other thing it can do is pan, zoom, and offer adjustments to the brightness and contrast and such. The funny thing is, adjusting all of these things is useless. You basically have to keep brightness and contrast up 85% of the way or higher everywhere except perhaps a tanning bed, and I doubt a laptop would be of much use there. Oh and the pan is simple adorable, it can move almost a smidgen from side to side and up and down.
To top it off, there's a little insidious, evil button on top which immediately tries to open messenger when depressed. There's no way to turn it off or it's function.
This should be sold at Toys R Us for 15$ in a box with smiling personified inanimate computer objects with cartoon-ish text illustrating what a great camera for the whole family it is. That advertising would be much more accurate. Though it should be marketed more towards deaf and blind families, for only they will be able to appreciate it's benefits.
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