# Need Cheap Webcam Recommendation

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 12:25:32

I'm not sure if this was done purposely or not, though I highly doubtit, but Youtube has become more accessible with Windowslately. I can now edit my own profile, and more importantly, post videos without having to use the mac. The problem is that my laptop doesn'thave a camera in it and Youtube doesn't except audio-only files. I have something called Virtual Camera, which uses a still picture to make the computer think that you have a real camera. I've tried using it with Debut, the software that I use to make my videos, but it really slows down the machine. That, or it's Debut itself. I'm sure this could be remedied with an upgrade from 512mb to 2gb of ram, but the ram usually costs about $6 to $115 plus shipping and then I need to find someone to install it for me. Spiros might be able to, since he's an electronic engineer but he's not a computer technician so I'm not sure. They say it's relatively easy. if he's not, though, then I need to add in the costs of someone else's labour. In either case, I don't have the money for this right now. But I might in December, when my birthday roles around. So the most efficient solution, at the moment, if it really is just the virtual camera that's slowing the machine down when I try to make videos, is a webcam. I almost always cover the lens of the ISight camera, because I got sick of people telling me that they can't see my face, that it's too light or too dark, that they could only see my head etc. So I really don't care about quality. I just need a recommendation for an extremely cheap usb webcam with software that's screenreader-accessible nd that works with XP Pro. Thanks.

## Post 2 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 12:26:15

I'm using the Mac for now, but the constant "Safari busy" is getting really old really quickly.

## Post 3 by rat (star trek rules!) on Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 17:27:44

i never see that issue where it says safari is busy.

## Post 4 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 17:33:33

try updating, since I just got a notifiction on that. Maybe that will help. I also don't like how Youtube sometimes cuts off my videos when they're not even close to being over the time limit. I have one just under five minutes and only 24 seconds of it posted. That used to happen alot but it's somewhat better now.

## Post 5 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 17:43:02

If you have an app that's busy all the time on the Mac you need to remove the amount of extensions, I think it is. A modern Mac Daddy will have to tell you specifically but that's what they used to be called in the Control Panels before OS X.
Now they're on your Doc I think but at any rate any platform anywhere when it goes busy like that is trying to run a lot of processes simultaneously.
But Macs don't generally have bloatware on them.
Perhaps a Mac daddy can clarify here. I've never seen someone's Safari do that constantly. OS X is so much cleaner than their older System 9 and before where you had extensions on top of extensions ... sounds like something is process pulling and it's not your kernel.

## Post 6 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 09-Oct-2010 16:14:41

I found something that might work for my needs. It's called the Labtec 1200 and it's selling at Amazon for only 9.95 and at other places for about $16. It can make videos as well as take still pictures. They say the resolution and framerate are bad but that doesn't matter to me. What does is whether or not their software is accessible, since I'm not sure if you could just plug it in and use it. Has anyone ever tried this camera or a Labtec product? If so, how easy was the install and will my computer use it's built-in microphone or is there one on the camera?

## Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 10-Oct-2010 17:15:17

You can make your computer use the mic or not. Most are plug and play. If you are checking Amazon search for plug and play cameras. Microsofts would be easy and Logetch, but they require the software be installed. Ram is easy to install and you could do it yourself. It's below the keyboard if you are talking a laptop, so a bit more difficult, but not hard. If you are talking a desktop simply open the box and feel for the cards that are like the one you have in your had. You slide it in just like the ones that are in their, then you close it up. Start the machine, wait maybe 5 minutes so it installs then you restart. Your screen reader might need re othrizing is about all. Your boyfriend could do either with no problems, or even your mom and her mate. It's not hard. More ram if you can use the camera on the site is a better choice, because it will do many things for you then just the video.

## Post 8 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 10-Oct-2010 18:27:01

Thanks for the advice. lol I'd love to see Mom install ram or do anything more than basics on the computer. That would be the day. Joanie, maybe with a push, but with Spiros, it's almost guaranteed. I actually found instructions on how to remove and install ram on an IBM Thinkpad X32 so that will definitely come in handy. Good to know that most cams are plug and play. I wonder to what other uses I can put to it, particularly such a cheap one? I'm sure that scanning documents is out and I don't know any software that uses cameras instead of scnners anyway. I'd say The VOIC, but I'm sure that requires something of a better quality to actually make sense of things. Still, it's an interesting thought.

## Post 9 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 03-Mar-2011 13:03:47

Okay. I'm bringing this topic back because I really do need a camera now for my lessons in crafts. I'm not sure if the ISight one would be good or not. Basically, I need my teacher to be able to see what I'm doing as I'm making the footstools, baskets, brooms or whatever. It's also worth noting that all of these crafts require water, as the reed, cane or broom corn need to be wet in order to be handled without breaking. So if I need to get really close to the Mac, this might not be the best option for me, as I don't want to drip water on it. I'm considering a Labtec, as I said, but I'm not sure if their cameras are adequate for the job. Fortunately, they have a few at really good prices so I'll just need to sort through them and see if one can match my needs.

## Post 10 by Striker (Consider your self warned, i'm creative and offensive like handicap porn.) on Thursday, 03-Mar-2011 13:46:31

Hmm, their would be advantages and disadvantages to using the isight and something you can actually move. Its going to be alittle trickier to get a good viewing angle with the iSight than it would with something on a cord you could move and adjust. My only experience with webcams has been those built into laptops. Though I know many people who have used other solutions.
Because you need this for classes and the like though, I would get something that takes at least semi-good quality shots so the instructor will have alittle more to go on than blurry images with not much detail.Things usually are different from camra to camra, so i'd read reviews at a minimum.
Hope this helps.

## Post 11 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 03-Mar-2011 14:59:42

Thanks. I'm really excited to finally be starting my lessons and I want to make sure that things go as they should. I need a balance between cost and quality. So I'll definitely check into reviews. If anyone else can offer advice on things like frame rate or features, or if any of you have worked with accessible cameras and software, please let me know. It's also worth noting that we'll probably be using Skype as our communication platform, and if not, then Windows Live messenger.