| Product: |
Logitech Quickcam Messenger |
| Date: |
21/06/04 (800 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: cheap, easy to set up and use
Disadvantages: not water proof, sound quality on the microphone can be a bit hit and miss
What can I say? (A lot of things actually, but unless I type them you will not have a clue what I am on about!).
I saw this for £14.99 in a high street computer shop in the bank holiday sale, and so I just couldn't resist temptation. I just had to get one. (Do you think I'm starting to sound a bit like the Absolutely Fabulous characters?).
I have had Microsoft's MSN instant messenger for about six months and have a fairly long list of contacts (i.e. your friends that you talk to). Out of the list of contacts, about half of them have got some sort of web cam, so that I can see them when talking to them online. Some even have the posh ones, which also have sound on (the posh gits).
To avoid being in the minority, I splashed out on a web cam (and got wet. Bad joke, sorry). I'm not quite sure what I expected to get out of it, I just wanted one.
As I said before, I bought the 'Logitech Quick Cam' because it was in the sale. When I got it home I opened it (believe it or not) and to my surprise it was actually smaller than I first thought. The actual round cam was larger than a table tennis ball (ping pong ball to the commoners) but smaller than a tennis ball. As you can see from the picture, it resembles an eyeball (sort of). It has a small black base, which allows it to stand up by itself (well isn't it a big boy), but it does and will fall over fairly regularly. It has a relatively large lens, which allows it to be cleaned easily. It also has a built in microphone.
Setting it up was easy. The instructions weren't too baffling (once that I found the English. To start with: 'la camera' what is 'la camera'. Just like in that Simpsons episode when Homer gets a BBQ but drops the English instructions in the cement so has to use the French ones. You will either know what I am on about by now or think I'm stupid or boring!). To install the camera it is simply a case of inserting th
e CD then plugging it in to a USB port when told to do so. Simon says plug in the camera. Simon says well done.
The software that comes with the camera automatically sets it up for use with the most popular instant messaging services (MSN, Yahoo and AOL), so all you need to do is press the 'view web cam' button.
The picture quality is...well debatable. If you have a light or lamp shining on you then you look OK. However if the room is even the slightest bit dull, the picture will be very dark. The resolution (clarity and quality of picture) is as good as can be expected for fifteen quid. I have been told that unfortunately other people can see my face and so tell whom it is (obviously jealous of my beautiful looks, ha ha).
The in-built microphone is, well, too much in built, so you need to talk loudly to be audible to other people. But, you can swear at them in a normal voice and they wont be any the wiser (unless they can lip read). The sound quality is OK, nothing amazing, but hey, that?s life.
The camera is powered by power from the computer through the USB cable, so there is no need for batteries (hurray!). However the cable is a bit too short, so if your computer unit is say, on the floor, or in a computer desk low down, it is possible the cable will be stretching. If the cable stretches, then the camera is likely to topple over, and you can end up broadcasting your carpet to the whole world!
I only used my camera for about one month. Yes, it only lasted one month. How was I to know that it wasn't waterproof when I spilled my drink on it? The guarantee doesn't cover water damage, however it does cover mechanical breakdown for two years (most manufacturers only guarantee for one year).
To gain the most out of the Logitech Quick Cam, you really need broadband. Standard dial up will result in a stop start video with the audio out of sync.
Overall this web cam and built in microphone is
good value for money providing you have broadband and you don't douse it in orange juice!
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