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Are Microsoft's newest webcams the last of a dying breed?

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

May 13, 2008, 3:28 PM

Microsoft today has announced the pricing and upcoming availability of its LifeCam VX-5000 Windows Live-optimized webcam.

Expected to reach the market in June, the VX-5000 features a dedicated Windows Live Call button, which allows Windows Live Messenger users one-touch access to their "Contact Picker" (i.e. buddy list.) The included LifeCam Dashboard acts within Windows Live Messenger, allowing pan, tilt, 3x digital zoom, face tracking, and video effects to be used in-call.

Additionally, the VX-5000 supports MSN Photo Swap, which now allows users to trade still photos during video calls.

The 640 x 480 VGA camera with 1.3 megapixel still picture capability will retail for an estimated $49.95.

Microsoft's new LifeCam

External webcams are practically a thing of the past, with an increasing number of low-end notebooks offering built-in cameras with comparable functionality. Intel's Classmate PC, for example, which is in the ULCPC class of computers, (deliberately low-power and cheap) offers a 640 x 480 .3M webcam. A few years ago, a built-in camera was a premium feature.

Considering the shrinking camera footprint -- as evidenced by Micron's 2 megapixel imaging system on a chip that measures only 0.2" and can capture 15 frames of video a second at full resolution -- Microsoft's LifeCams are downright huge.

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By mjm01010101

posted May 14, 2008 - 11:26 AM

I know I seem to be alone in this, but I'd rather have 60 fps video than higher resolution, even hdtv. More frames in video makes a huge difference in picture quality, in my opinion. Ever seen a movie pan to the left and right in a theater? It sucks. That is because of 24 fps.

Score: 0

By keir

posted May 14, 2008 - 11:09 AM

I don't see everyone switching to laptops anytime soon, so the whole premise of the headline is stupid.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

edited May 14, 2008 - 1:54 PM

Laptops are the majority of the PC/mac markets and have been for at least a year. In my company we are considering laptops for every employee, which I have fought [in favor of] for many years.

Score: 0

By uberfly

posted May 14, 2008 - 4:21 AM

The "Windows Live Call button" on MS's webcams is annoying as hell. Every time you grab the thing it fires off their goofy apps.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted May 14, 2008 - 3:34 AM

1.3 MP is exactly what my HP notebook has built in, it's a POS. I love the guys on XBOX Live who are always flipping me off with both hands after a takedown in Burnout Paradise on their 360 cameras, which incidentally suck too.

Score: 0

By Comit

posted May 13, 2008 - 8:48 PM

Seems webcam resolution has been stuck at the crappy 640 x 480 level since they first started becoming popular back around 2000, eugh...

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted May 14, 2008 - 1:04 AM

Part of a problem with going bigger is a lack of bandwidth (or in Skype's case, processing power) available to people who use webcams. We're not talking IT professionals - we're talking grandmas and kids on Skype and MSN. Many crappy entry-level broadband plans (at least here) wouldn't cope with much more than 640x480.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted May 13, 2008 - 7:20 PM

" 15 frames of video a second "

Woopie....I hope Microsoft's new webcams are better than that crap.

Score: 0

By DeadFly

posted May 13, 2008 - 5:20 PM

You can see Logitec trying to hold on with their software features and the "deal" where their webcams allow you to do higher resolution video calls on Skype. If they could get people wanting their premium features, maybe they could keep themselves in the game by later being integrated into laptops and monitors. I could see a "Featuring Logitec webcam technology" logo on the displays at BestBuy...

Score: 0

By ker7099

posted May 13, 2008 - 8:29 PM

Actually Logitech already provides technology to laptop manufactures for integrated webcams. For instance my Acer laptop's built in webcam is a Logitech.

Score: 0

By DrNewtonD

posted May 13, 2008 - 4:21 PM

Since embedded webcams are a new feature in Laptops there is still a huge market for external cams. People are not going to rush out and buy new computers (even if they are cheap) just for an integrated cam. Business are (with the advent of Video over IP)relying on these types of devices more and more.

Score: 0

By auiotour

posted May 13, 2008 - 5:34 PM

Both my laptop and desktops have web cams built into the displays. the one in my viewsonics is horrible. I replaced them with two logitech webcams, they are so much better. My laptop has an isight which I find hard to replace (specially since it's a laptop)

Score: 0

By ToeKneeC

posted May 13, 2008 - 5:54 PM

I agree, while the built in ones on laptop are nice to have when traveling, you need a nice external webcam for true video calling (not to mention they handle lighting better).

Score: 0

By Hellcat_M

posted May 13, 2008 - 3:42 PM

As long as thier are desktop PC's external webcams won't become obsolete (or until more monitor manufacturers make cams built into their monitors).

Score: 0

By mixx

edited May 13, 2008 - 7:54 PM

Why do you think everyone uses a laptop? A lot of us still do our primary computing from a desktop computer and prefer external webcams. Generally integrated components are not of the highest quality. I almost never use the integrated video or audio on a desktop computer unless I have to (like at work).

Score: 0

By Ethelred

posted May 13, 2008 - 8:37 PM

Webcams are used a lot of ways that cannot be done with a single cam that is stuck looking at a typists face. External cams are not going away just because of laptops. Even when we reach the level of display glasses with built in cameras, external cameras will still be needed.

Built in cameras are pretty worthless for keeping an eye on things unless you need to spy on yourself. Then again maybe web journalists(if you will excuse the oxymoron) have a desperate need to keep track of their own faces they as they attempt to reach new levels of irrelevance in an attempt to be irreverent.

(Yes, I read the Register too much.)

Score: 0

By Esquire

posted May 13, 2008 - 9:04 PM

I too prefer an external webcam. A notebook's built-in webcam cannot adjust its viewing angle without adjusting the monitor or the whole notebook if I want to point the webcam to record soemthing else!

Score: 0

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