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Webcam virgin
Marty999
Posts: 728 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
I'd like to get a webcam so our children can see/speak to their cousins 300 miles away and I could do with some basic advice please.
1) Is it normal to use webcams in conjunction with an instant messaging program?
2) I have never used instant messaging before either, are any such programs better than others, or are they all much alike?
3) Do webcams normally come with a microphone built in?
4) Can anyone recommend a webcam to suit my purposes? I am running XP Home and have 2Mb ADSL.
Thanks!
1) Is it normal to use webcams in conjunction with an instant messaging program?
2) I have never used instant messaging before either, are any such programs better than others, or are they all much alike?
3) Do webcams normally come with a microphone built in?
4) Can anyone recommend a webcam to suit my purposes? I am running XP Home and have 2Mb ADSL.
Thanks!
0
Comments
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1 - yes
2 - most commonly used are Skype and Windows Live Messenger.. I like skype as you can make regular phone calls (to real land lines) really cheaply
3 - Often
4 - What's your budget?
how about this? http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3271586/Microsoft-USB-Lifecam-VX-1000-Webcam/Product.html
this has a good spec http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3514921/Creative-Live-Cam-Notebook-Webcam/Product.html0 -
ringo_24601 wrote: »What's your budget?
I was thinking of around the £20 mark.0 -
drat! the topic title got me all excited....let down (again)
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.0 -
I agree with the previous answers. Glad I could help!
Seriously, I'd say try and go with a headset rather than a built-in mic as echo can be very annoying and problematic - especially when you get a delay on the line! (though if anyone can recommend a cam with really good echo cancellation, I'll give it a go!)
I use Skype for talking to family in Cornwall and South Africa. I like it cos it's easy to use and you can take snapshots of the camera feed during conversations.
Also, make sure you get a cam that's comatible with the messaging program you're going to use. So look for the Messenger or Skype logos on the packaging (if that's what you deide to use).
We use these my parents are about 300 miles away also, and we get a really good picture with 2Mb connections.
The Microsoft cam in Ringo's post is also very good.The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.
-- Marty Feldman0 -
ringo_24601 wrote: »2 - most commonly used are Skype and Windows Live Messenger.. I like skype as you can make regular phone calls (to real land lines) really cheaply
Really cheaply? With Skype and Tesco being the two dearest VoIP providers!It's PAC not PAC Code, it's MAC not MAC Code, it's PIN not PIN Number, it's ATM not ATM Machine, it's LCD not LCD Display, it's DVD not DVD disc... It's no one not noone, It's a lot not alot, It's got not gotten... Panini is the plural of panino - there is no S!!(OK my English isn't great, the sciences, maths & IT are my strong points!)0 -
So who's cheaper/cheapest?
I suggest reading Martin's article on it. I haven't used VOIP in years but last time I did there were companies like VOIPcheap and VOIPbuster etc where you simply put in €10 credit or something and landline calls within the UK were charged at 0p/min, i.e. free. And pretty much ANY VOIP service you looked at was cheaper than skype."She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
Yeah, many of the Betamax VoIP providers, such as VoIP Cheap, VoIPDiscount, VoIP Stunt etc: http://backsla.sh/betamax even Sipgate, OrbTalk and all the others have lower rates than Skype and Tesco.
Agree there's a huge thread / segment on VoIP.It's PAC not PAC Code, it's MAC not MAC Code, it's PIN not PIN Number, it's ATM not ATM Machine, it's LCD not LCD Display, it's DVD not DVD disc... It's no one not noone, It's a lot not alot, It's got not gotten... Panini is the plural of panino - there is no S!!(OK my English isn't great, the sciences, maths & IT are my strong points!)0 -
I'm getting a bit confused now, are you saying it costs money to use a webcam? I thought it was free...0
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I'm getting a bit confused now, are you saying it costs money to use a webcam? I thought it was free...
No; webcam use is free.
Just a poster also mentioned using Skype to call landlines - that does cost, and costs are some of the highest through Skype.It's PAC not PAC Code, it's MAC not MAC Code, it's PIN not PIN Number, it's ATM not ATM Machine, it's LCD not LCD Display, it's DVD not DVD disc... It's no one not noone, It's a lot not alot, It's got not gotten... Panini is the plural of panino - there is no S!!(OK my English isn't great, the sciences, maths & IT are my strong points!)0
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