Webcam Reviews
A webcam is connected to your computer via USB. It can be useful for chat (MSN messenger), video conferencing (programs such as Netmeeting), and also taking photos and videos at your computer desk.
Here we have provided information about webcam basics, system requirement for webcam and buying guide.
Basic Information about Webcams
USB cameras are the low resolution digital cameras, which is attached to your computer and reveal still images or the live video streams. With the help of webcam you can make short videos, so that you can email these videos to your friends on video conference calls.
Most of the webcams have 640 x 480 optical resolutions, normally known as VGA for still images and videos. Higher-end webcam have higher resolution 1.3-megapixel sensor. But the webcam not uses all the resolution for video, some webcam are capable of 960 x 720 video, while other capture videos at 640 x 480 and the remaining resolution is reserved for still images. Also there are cheap webcams are available in the market, having 352 x 288 resolution like many cell-phone cameras having 3-megapixel resolution.
System Requirements
Most of the webcam require a Pentium 4 with Windows 2000 or the newer operating system and 128 MB of RAM. All the webcams are compatible with 2.0 USB. This allows faster data transfer than the older 1.1 standard USB. Also these webcams are backward compatible, if you have an ole computer (pre-2002). If you are using Windows Vista operating system, then drivers could be an issue if you have an older or less popular web camera. So first checkout or ask the manufacturer whether Vista drivers are available or planned for the webcam or not. Same driver problem is a major issue for the Macintosh Operating system.
Buying Webcam
You can buy webcams for computer desktop use, your personal use, for potable use, and you can use your digital camera as a webcam on many computers. You should see following features while buying a webcam.
Potable:- Whether your web camera is portable, normally the webcams are small in size and it has a clip, so that it can be clipped on the laptop monitor.
DPI or Resolution:- The specifies the quality of your camera. Basically, higher resolution gives you better quality. Many times manufacturer gives you resolution specifications which are only gained by enhancing the photo with a photo editor.
Digital zoom:- Digital zoom is different from the optical zoom available in various digital cameras. It simply increases the size of the given area instead of changing the lens positioning.
Microphone:- Just checkout that, if the webcam has a built-in microphone or not.
