For those of you with webcams, how do they work? I know nothing about them, but I'd like to get one for college so that I can stay in touch with my girlfriend.

Do they come with software to use over the internet, or do you use IM type software, or do you need webspace to use them online?

Thanks!

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gree gree.

You can use it with AIM, MSN, and Netmeeting, probably lots of other software too.

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http://www.sporkaudio.com

You can get a variety of free software off the internet, use IM programs like MSN or Yahoo and such, and the cams themselves usually come with their own utilities - at least to set the gamma/contrast/saturation/etc.

If you plan on getting a webcam, I have two tips for you.

Firstly, don't get a creative. They suck. Period.

Secondly, you should definately put some more money to get a better quality one. There's webcams for 30$.. but what you'll get is a small 256x256 pixelated image with a ton of static, low framerate, and a bunch of bugs. The best webcams are those that double as digicams. If you can invest 200ish$, you should buy one of those - and you get a new camera at the same time.

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WAITER: Here’s your green salad, sir.
ANAKIN: What? You fool, I told you NO CROUTONS! Aaaaaaargh!

Indeed, most webcams suck quality-wise.



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Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You're next." They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

Yeah, they do suck big time as far as quality goes. The littlest movement can cause the light on the cam to increase or decrease dramatically. And the pictures on the box are a load of crap. They are not as clear as a digital camera photo.

Basically when you watch American Pie, when they are on the webcams, that's about how they are.

Yahoo has one of the best webcam software on IM I found so far though.

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I can't think of anything to put here right now.

Riiiiight. We all know what you're really going to do with it.

Bad light changes can easily be fixed by disabling auto exposure.

The best webcam I've ever seen for both image quality and framerate is the Apple iSight. 640x480 images and pretty smooth 30 fps video. I honestly don't know if it's PC compatable or not though, and it is around $150. Though there are probably some pretty similar cameras out there as well.

Ive got one, but I dont use it. Should I set up snapshot server?

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Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
:wq

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=4,CONTENTID=7172

that one is quite nice from my experience.

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-=I'm the wang of this here site, and it's HUGE! So just imagine how big I am.=-
1337Yectiwan
OSC Returns!!
10 of 14 -- 27 Lives On

GBKam! I'd watch it!

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Do you have stairs in your house?

That just...

I'm afraid.

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Genesis 22:2-5 - And God said unto Abraham "You must kill your son, Isaac." And Abraham said "What? I can't hear you! You'll have to speak into the microphone." And God said "Check, check, check, check. Jerry, can you pull the high end out. I'm getting some hiss up here."
Valuable Life Lesson: Frog + Potato Gun = Blindness
Catalog of Electronic Components - Complete IC data sheets
National Electrical Code® (NEC®) Online - Legal requirements for wiring projects.

[forget it, this webcam is a peice of junk. Ill try again when I get ahold of a better one]

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Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
:wq

[This message has been edited by GBK (edited June 13, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by GBK (edited June 13, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by GBK (edited June 14, 2004).]

http://cazor.ww.com/ is mine. ( www.camarades.com ) just DL the software from there... i think it asks for a credit card halfway inbetween registeration, but its already registered so i just stopped there and used it. it's pretty dandy.

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There are two asses in Massassi... and I'm one of them.
The Matrix Unplugged|My Portfolio|My Levels

[This message has been edited by Cazor (edited June 13, 2004).]