Webcam for new laptop

lucylouwoo

Hi all,

I am after a little advice as I know pretty much zero about laptops and webcams.

I have just bought a new laptop with windows 7 and I am after a cheap webcam but all the ones I have seen say that they are compatible with xp, vista and pro but none of them say anything about windows 7.

Does anyone know of any cheap ones out there that are compatiable (around a tenner) or do you know if the ones that are compatiable with the other windows programms would work.

thanks in advance

julianashcroft

Lots out there such as this one.

John_Gray

I know it's a very silly question, but are you sure your laptop doesn't already have a webcam near the front top of the lid?

With most webcams you can just plug them in and they work (when the drivers are installed), even on XP. No obvious need to install the (IMHO usually rubbish) software that comes with it on the CD.

You probably won't go far wrong with Microsoft ones or Logitech ones, but check what the resolution is compared with the quality you want... Also check whether the webcam has a built-in microphone.

Donnie

julianashcroft wrote: »

Lots out there such as this one.

Doesn't look suitable for a laptop, as there looks to be no lid clip. Plus, it's not great in quality. VGA quality at only 15fps.

Why would someone buy a new laptop without a built in webcam?

Perhaps the make and model number will allow us to double check.

Knarf44

If you discover your webcam does have an integrated webcam then try it out and see what you think of the quality. If you decide you're not happy with it and you're happy enough to spend a bit extra, then both this camera or this one would be appropriate. Both are VGA format up to 30fps and have integrated microphones, not up to everyone's standards but both have received a lot of positive reviews from the people who bought them.

Of course there are better webcams out there but as you stated you only wanted to spend about a tenner, one or other of the above two would seem ideal.

Donnie

VGA at 30 fps is as good as can be expected and in general, good enough. If the laptop has no webcam, the processor might be on the lightweight side, as will the graphics capability. So anything more than that could be taxing.