A decent web cam, but not digital camera (Creative Videoblaster Webcam Go Plus)

Member Name: an-r-ky-uk

Product:	Creative Videoblaster Webcam Go Plus
Date:	05/03/03 (822 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: multifunction

Disadvantages: compatability problems, very very low quality images, static memory

I have always regarded create products to be of the highest standard and quality, ever since I bought my first computer back in 96, I always had a preference for creative products not only for the above reasons but also their service and price.

However when I bought this camera a year ago, my view of creative was let down. The webcam go plus, IS one of the best web cams I have used, but in no way is this a digital camera, in fact its usefulness as a digital camera goes about only as far as being able to take a picture in the best conditions possible. The slightest hint of a cloud in the sky and you can forget it, the quality is seriously poor and close ups are nothing more than a blur.

Pretty much the same can be said for the voice recorder feature of the camera, its a nice touch, being about the same size as a Dictaphone you might think useful, well you think wrong, the microphone is weak and you literally have to hold it to you mouth to get any form of clarity from it. ( I my self use a Dictaphone for recording interviews/conversations so recording a two way conversation with this is useless ).

The software that is bundled with the camera is adequate and not much can be said for it, it does the job but is rather fiddly, and much more could have been done, such as the format that the files are transferred to your pc as, where they are downloaded to etc...

On top of all this the web cam go has a few problems, in the year I have used mine I have had to format the memory of the camera due to corrupted files, being as the memory of this camera is static and non removable I'm already worried that its on its way out. The other major problem appears to be compatibility, I have used my camera on several machines and found that it doesn?t like 98SE and Xp very much but appears ok on 2000 and 98 ( non SE ).

In short if your looking for a web cam that you could also use as a digital camera ( in a dire emergency ) look no futher
, if you are looking for a cheap digital camera you can also use as a web cam, steer well away from this product.

One last note the manuals that come with this product are incomplete, the full documentation is actualy available at the creative website.

Summary: