Webcam Review

Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 ( 68A-00001 )I have recently purchased two of these webcams. I put one at home and one at my desk at work. I wanted to start playing with the video conferencing aspect of technology. I also wanted to use it with Skype. So far the webcam is very nice it allows my 2 year old to see me in the morning when she wakes up and I am at work. There is a lag in video but nothing to bad. The audio is great I have no complaints with the built in microphone. It has face tracking and it does work if you turn it on but I find that when you do that it zooms in to your face and you don’t see your surroundings. In the case of talking to my wife and baby, that is not good, cause it focuses on one face and you miss the other. We use the webcam a lot with Windows Live Messenger. Works as advertised can’t complain.I have not found a way to have the webcam take a picture at a designated time and post it to a website. This is one feature that I would like to use it for that does not appear to be an option. I really like it’s compact size and look forward to taking it with me when I go out of town. Should keep the family in touch and save on phone bills.My next experiment will be taking pics with it and adding them to my blog.

I give the Microsoft Lifecam vx-3000 a Thumbs up or 4 stars out of 5.  Here are the specifics from Microsoft.

High Definition Photos
High Definition photos (1.3 megapixels interpolated)* show you in the best light.

Built-in Microphone
The built-in microphone automatically picks up your voice with remarkable clarity.

Windows Liveâ„¢ Call Button
Just press this button and select an Online Contact to start a video call.

Automatic Face-Tracking Software**
Move around without disappearing from the screen—advanced software keeps your face front and center.

Universal Attachment Base
It’s a snap to attach the LifeCam to any monitor.

Pan, Tilt and Zoom
The pan and tilt functionality make it a snap to capture the big picture, however you want to see it.

Flexible Six-Foot Cable
The long, flexible cable gives you more room to move.

Video Effects
Surprise your friends with cool video effects, accessible right from the Windows Live Messenger Window.

Up To 30 Frames Per Second
LifeCams capture life at 30 frames per second, which means the video images you see are smooth and seamless.I hope you find this review helpful and start using a webcam yourself.

Later
JB