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TigerDirect



Do You Want to Buy A Web Camera (Webcam)?




A web camera is a nice gadget for not only online chat, or communicating long-distance, but with the right web camera, it can be used for an online business. However, trying to determine which webcam is right for you can be another story. Let me explain.

If you have a web camera that is low in resolution, and you are an online photographer you may not be satisfied. Why? You are definitely looking for detailed, crisp images. On the other hand, if you are the average person, just looking to take family pictures, you may be satisfied.


 Hardware

Though the webcam's basic function is to capture video and transmit it online for someone else to view on the other end, you need to keep in mind certain aspects of any given product you buy.

1. Clip- Most laptops today have a built-in webcam. However, the older laptops and desktops do not have this luxury. 

One essential for a webcam is the clip that holds the gadget in place on a laptop or a monitor on a desktop. If you’re lucky, the company has developed a clip that can be used to support a webcam on your laptop or able to sit firmly on your desktop for your desktop computer..

2.Connectivity - There are three different methods in which a webcam can be connected: 1) USB, 2) Firewire and, 3) parallel port.

  1. USB Port- the USB port is the most popular, and in most case, compatible with your laptop or desktop. The best bet is to check for Plug-n-Play compatibility. This is where you just need to plug in the camera to use it and the operating system will find it for you.
  2. Firewire - before buying a webcam with firewire compatibility, make sure your computer has such a port before buying.
  3. Parallel Ports - Parallel ports are used on older computers. Know that a parallel port connection is slower than USB connections and may also interfere and slow your computer system down.
 
Note: For those with 98 operating system, be advised to stay away from parallel ports and stick with USB connections. Why? Webcams will interfere with your printer. In this case, the USB connection would be a better alternative, as well as, offer you a better experience.

Windows 95 or Windows NT you are stuck with parallel connections, because Windows 95 seems to be rather touchy with USB connections. Moreover, some webcams will not even support the Windows 95 operating system.

Picture Imaging

As you might expect, the higher the resolution the better the image, thus, if your webcam has a low resolution you may be disappointed in the quality of the image. It may appear grainy. Put resolution is just one factor to consider.

  1. Resolution-Most webcams resolutions are set at 320x240 or 640X480. This range of resolution does offer an image that is clear and not grainy. However, some models can have high-definition capture with a resolution of 1600x1200.
  2. Frame Rate. If your frame rate is too low, you could find that when transmitting images possible freezing images, choppy videos and slow load time.
  3. Lens- Lens can affect the quality of your lens. And thus, different web cameras do have different lens . In many cases, a plastic lens is usually used in low-end models, while glass lenses are used in higher end models. If you are looking at a webcam in a store and the picture is blurry or slightly warped, probably a plastic lens is distorting the picture. If the picture is clear and sharp, the web camera has a glass lens.
In addition, lens focus can be fixed, manual and automatic. A fixed is okay, if you're using it for live conversations or video email. However, if you wanting to have close up images, you'll need a web camera that allows for manual manipulation.


One final note in regards to image. Be sure you know what you are getting when it comes to image capture. Is the web camera you are going to offer color or black/white image capture.


 System Requirements

Do not blindly buy a webcam. You first need to know whether your laptop or desktop can support the unit, as well as, if you have enough disk space on your computer.

Here are several questions you need to ask before buying a web camera:
  1. Does the webcam you want to buy support your operating system?
  2. How much memory will it use?
  3. Do you have enough memory on your computer
  4. Does it need any additional software to run, or does the software come with it
  5. Do you have a slow Internet connection? If you have a slow internet connection, you will find that any web camera that you purchase will not transmit any heavy data at a decent speed. If you have a slow connection, you will have to consider if buying a webcam is in your best interest.
Pricing

Pricing always needs to be factored into any electronic gadget you buy. In many cases, price is not a true element of quality. The best way to determine the quality of a webcam is by the frames per second it can take.

  1. A cheap webcam is good for video instant messaging or conversations between individuals (cheap webcams usually can only do 15 frames per second).
  2. A higher end webcam is one that can take 30 frames per second. For instance, if someone is deaf and uses sign language to speak with the other individual, the 30 frames per second will allow the clarity you need to see the hand signing clearly.


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