Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision ( 961471-0403 )

List Price: $129.99 Discount Price: $69.99

Features:

• Five precision-engineered lens elements provide superior picture quality
• Includes a 1.3-megapixel sensor and RightLight technology for great images in any lighting situation
• Personalize your IM and video calls with exclusive video effects and avatars
• Quick preview button allows you to see yourself before joining video calls
• Works with Skype, MSN Messenger, Yahoo, and AIM

Accessories:

GOOSENECK WEBCAM

Customer Reviews:

Excellent [Posted on 2008-01-15]
All that it is advertised. This is our first webcam and we are very pleased with it's performance.

Great Communicating Tool [Posted on 2008-01-19]
We just knew that we wanted to see our grandchildren on a regular basis and that a webcam was the best way short of air travel. My daughter and I researched webcams on Amazon and found this great deal. It allows us to laugh and talk with the children in Florida and I am encouraging my friends to look into one for themselves on Amazon. The rebate was a great incentive as well. Thanks Amazon.com

Microphone not working [Posted on 2008-02-17]
Purchased this item at Christmas the video works great but can't get the built in microphone to work. Been in contact with Logitech support several times but none of their suggestions seem to solve the problem.

I'm using a Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 keyboard and they're suggestion was to uninstall the software. The reason was that the volume on the keyboard could cause the problem but this still didn't solve anything.

Even went as far as downloading the software off their website and doing a clean install. Did this three different times using three different USB ports and this still didn't work.

Now waiting for next response from Logitech.

One of The Best WebCams Out There For Mac OSX Systems Lacking iSight [Posted on 2008-03-28]
I bought this to put on my home theater computer that's based on a Mac Mini (Core2Duo) running OS X Leopard to add iChat AV and Skype Video to our living room system. Being a USB Video Class device made using it literally plug-n-play. Be sure to consult with Google/Wikipedia for information about which versions of these Logitech QuickCams support the UVC standard before purchasing one for your Mac. I also purchased one of these for my parents to use on their WinXP desktop via Skype Video and the cross platform image quality is superb, even on a 720p HDTV.

One criticism is the use of the camera in low-light conditions. Blockiness occurs and it's hard to push the video gain w/o creating other artifacts (speckles and grains). Not a show stopper and a common issue with any webcam.

Just too many problems for that price [Posted on 2008-05-30]
I know the rating looks harsh, but I've just spent $240. At that range, the product had better be darn good. This one just isn't.

For one, it's heavy and bulky... and on my laptop, it's actually making the screen go down if it's already tilted backwards... that's a bad start. Then, the angle of view is kinda weird. It's good sideways, but up and down, it seems like it's more tilted up?

The back stand... these things on the logitech webcams have been driving me crazy. At first, you think they'll be helpful and balance the camera out, but in the end, the slightest thing too close to your laptop screen, and they're falling. They're also god hard to store, which means they easily break, and then, you're out $240, because the webcam can't hook on to anything, or balance.

CPU issues... wow this thing sucks the life of my computer!! Everything slows down incredibly when I start chatting. Yeah, I want to chat, but I don't want to stop living and breathing for it!

The mic - ok so the other person can see every pimple on your forehead (angle tilted up), but they can't hear you if you step 1 foot diagonally. So your kids can wave to granny, but they won't be able to say a word she can hear until all she can see is their lips... that's just weird.

Conclusion: not the bang for the buck.

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