Wanna Webcam? I'm ready to go in 5,4,3,2...hi! (Creative Webcam Instant Skype Edition)

Member Name: malteser1987

Product:	Creative Webcam Instant Skype Edition
Date:	28/05/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great value, good quality, easy to use

Disadvantages: Mic doesn't record sound and video

Now when buying a webcam you have to consider what you're really wanting from it. For example, I bought this cam following a dud older webcam which had no technical support for Windows Vista and was therefore completely reduntant. So what was I looking for? A simple plug-in and play webcam - I'm not after perfect definition, high pixel count and exceptional quality but I think that this little bundle - created especially for skype, does the job well.

So the benefits; it is reasonably priced, you get a pretty good quality webcam which is very easy to use - you just plug in the USB and it comes with a CD with some simple software that allows you to take snap shot stills or record videos. You can also nab the software and drivers off of the internet. It also comes with a microphone - personally I've got a seperate microphone because I am not a techno wizz; my laptop has a poor quality microphone, this has a mic...its just simpler to get a reasonable good seperate mic in my case which I already had from my previous webcam without mic. The other bonus is the stand - it can be clipped on the top of your laptop lid and can also be placed in other positions - the clip is more like a claw so you can adjust it to the height you want and the 'head' of the cam has some movement and holds in place well once you're adjusted. I think it makes a cracking accessory for laptops because of this. It is also has a focus dial around the front of the camera which gives you a little tweak capability to sharpen your picture. Being vain, I like that it is fairly receptive to light and can be very 'honest' about your appearance. Creating a warm glow around me tends to give me a pretty clear and clean complexion and is much more complementary but at proper light, it'll capture you in the light you were made and so proves it is pretty good quality for a webcam especially!

The cons - for love nor money, I cannot adjust the settings so that I can have sound on video's when I'm recording. I don't know if it's the interference of my built in mic, a duff webcam mic or the seperate mic - but the video does not record sound.

Otherwise, I think this is a well priced, reasonably good quality webcam which does everything it says on the box - if you're after a cam that will last, then this is great value for money.

Summary: A great value camera which is simple to use and will last you. Does what it says it will - full stop

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