Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 (68C-00001)
Put the power of Windows Live Messenger at your fingertips, the Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 has instant messaging with friends and family to a new level of sight and sound by offering great video and clear audio with acoustic noise cancellation. Plus, you get advanced features, such as software for automatic face tracking and low-light adjustment, so you feel like you're there. The VX-6000 also includes several key enhancements over the LifeCam VX-3000, including capabilities for high definition video, a wide angle lens, a 3x digital zoom and a high-speed USB connection. See a comparison of the LifeCam VX-3000 and VX-6000.
The Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 is optimized for Windows Live Messenger, which is used by the largest instant messaging community in the world with over 200 million users. Three key features that provide a superior experience for Windows Live. First, the Windows Live Call Button makes it easy to start a video call. Simply press the button to see who is online, and you're on your way to a video call. Second, with the LifeCam dashboard can access video effects and control your webcam from the Windows Live Messenger window. Finally, with a touch of blogs, one click lets you upload to Windows Live Spaces, an "online scrapbook" that lets you post blogs, photo albums and personal music lists.
The VX-6000 software for automatic face tracking, which takes advantage of the camera pan, tilt and zoom controls, then, not to disappear from the screen. The VX-6000 wide-angle lens lets you include more people on the screen for everyone to join in the fun. Furthermore, the 3x digital zoom brings you close enough that it's almost like sitting at the other person. camera sensor enables high definition video experience 1.3 megapixel and 5.0 interpolated megapixel photos.
The camera automatically adjusts for low light conditions for improved video quality and a unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation provides crystal clear sound. Video effects give you a fun way to express themselves, and last but not least, the basis of universal accessory camera fits on most monitors, including flat screens. Moreover, the camera can sit directly on the desktop.
Note that while the VX-6000 is optimized for use with Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft LifeCams also work with other instant messaging programs like AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.
Product Description
Experience instant messaging in a whole new way. Communicate with friends and family as if they were in the room with you. 1.3 megapixel high-definition video and 5.0 interpolated megapixel photos shown in the best light. The microphone automatically picks up your voice with remarkable clarity. Just press this button and select an online contact to start a video call. Lens wide angle 71 degrees ensures that nobody is left out of the picture. The pan and tilt functionality makes it much easier to capture great images, and want to see it. The long, flexible cable gives you more room to move. The zoom delivers realistic, up close and personal, so you can see the contours of every smile. The new USB 2.0 enables much higher connection speeds, so you can experience life in real time. Surprise your friends with cool video effects, accessible right from the Windows Live Messenger window. LifeCams capture life at 30 frames per second, which means the video images you see are smooth and seamless. Windows Vista or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) requires.
Technical Details
* Use with Windows Live Messenger to communicate with friends and family as if they were in the room with you
* Delivers 1.3 megapixel video resolution and a resolution of 5 megapixel photos
* Built-in microphone
* Simply press the Windows Live Call button and select an online contact to start a video conversation
* 71 degree wide angle lens ensures no one is left out of the picture
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Customer Review
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A bit pricey, but superior image quality and wide-angle lens,
This camera costs almost twice as much as the VX-3000, and it is debatable whether it offers enough for the price difference to be worthwhile. The VX-3000 is a very good buy and no doubt will make most average users very happy. That said, however, the VX-6000 does offer superior quality for those who want it, and still offers a better quality/price ratio than comparable Logitech or Creative products. Image is EXTREMELY crisp, and many of my on-line chat pals have commented that they were impressed. The wide-angle lens is also a big plus (in fact, it was what made me decide to pay more and get it), and it works well with little light.
On the down side, two things:
1) The absolutely irritating "Windows Live Call" button that gets easily pressed by accident and pops up Windows Live Messenger (still widely known as MSN Messenger). But there is an easy workaround:
a. Rename the file "IcePick.exe" in the installed camera programs folder (usually, "C:\Program Files\Microsoft LifeCam") to something else.
b. Create an EMPTY file (size 0 bytes) named "IcePick.exe" (for example, right-click on that folder's right pane in Windows Explorer, create a new empty text file and DON'T open it; then rename it and confirm that you want to change the extension).
Step (a) disables the button already, but if you don't perform step (b), when you access the camera utility "Properties" window (to change exposure, brightness, etc.) the driver will reinstall itself (asking for the CD, etc.) and restore the original "IcePick.exe" undoing what you did. But after performing both steps, the button is dead. If you want to restore the functionality, just delete the empty "IcePick.exe" and rename the old file back to its original name.
2) When lighting conditions change too suddenly (for example, when a brightly lit arm comes quickly closer to the camera) it may reset the feed and go dark for a second or two while the driver adjusts itself. Sometimes this can be annoying, and I don't know if there is a way to tweak the driver so that it doesn't adjust itself so often.
Other than these two points, however, the VX-6000 one of the best webcams I have ever seen and I don't hesitate to recommend it. No camera is perfect and other models and brands certainly have their down sides, too. The ones I've found are tolerable, and pale in comparison with this product's excellent quality.
A final tip: the driver on the CD is almost certainly outdated. [...]
Best webcam, probably a bit of an overkill for video chat,
I wish people would refrain from lying; some people will do anything to defame Microsoft, a genuine, all-American company. The LifeCam VX-6000 installs easily, does not install secret non-essential software like Creative and Logitech installers do, and works beautifully with various IM clients. I tested it with different video chat programs and didn't enconter any problems on my two WinXP computers. I mainly use it with the new Windows Live Messenger (formerly known as MSN Messenger) and the video and audio quality are just superb. But I do think this might be a little too much if all you do is casual video chats. The cheaper VX-3000 is probably a better buy for most people. If you want a real digital camera, get a real one from Canon, Casio, Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, etc. But if you do some video conferencing for business, the VX-6000 is a good investment.
