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Just A Compact Laptop Webcam

The LifeCam NX-6000 is a compact 2MP webcam with an inbuilt microphone, made for laptops, and it will easily fit into your pocket. The cam lens can be rotated vertically and also pushed into the body of the device when not in use. The LifeCam comes with a
carry pouch.

The camera attaches to the laptop using a clip-on-like mechanism. A little indicator with “Microsoft” on it flashes when the camera is in use. Although not hot enough to cause any real damage, it still does get pretty warm. Pressing the sole button on the camera starts Windows Live Messenger.

Like all USB devices these days, installation is very simple. Plug it in and Windows XP (Service Pack 2) detects the camera and the microphone without your having to install any drivers.

A Vista-styled software called LifeCam is provided. It lets you record photos, audio, and movies. Visual effects can be added as well to make things a little more fun. Panning and zooming can be done, but only at lower resolutions. The software lacks face-tracking features.

The LifeCam software can send images and clips through e-mail or upload it to Windows Live Spaces at the click of a button. Video is a little grainy at lower resolutions such as 640 x 480 and 800 x 600 as expected from most webcams, but still image clarity is pretty good (but can be a little blurry at higher resolutions). Being interpolated, the 7.6 MP image quality is quite poor.

Video resolution ranges from 160 x 120 all the way up to 2MP—1600 x 1190. Video recording performance drops considerably the moment the resolution crosses 800 x 600. Recorded audio quality is all right, but the mic picks up ambient noise easily.

The Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 retails at Rs 5,730—costlier than most desktop webcams, but for its small form factor and good image and video quality, it’s worth the money for anyone who demands quality in videoconferencing while on the field.

RATINGS
Performance  : 4
Features : 4
Build Quality : 4
Value for Money : 3.5
Overall : 4

Specifications
2MP; 3x digital zoom; inbuilt microphone; Vista Certified

Contact : SES Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Phone : 0124-4158000
E-mail : geethakb@microsoft.com
Web site : www.microsoft.com/india
Price : Rs 5,730