Fun for you and your PC with Intel’s PC Camera Pack
Written: Apr 08 '01 (Updated Apr 13 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice addition to your computing experience.
Cons: Small learning curve with NetMeeting or Video Phone.
The Bottom Line: For the price, why not add fun to your computing experience!
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| Lajeaca's Full Review: Intel PC Camera Pack |
Over the last several months, the Intel PC Camera Pack has turned out to be not only a great playtoy, but a very useful device as well.
Being able to actually see someone while you are talking to him or her makes such a difference. Especially since my son is “on the road” constantly. Microsoft’s NetMeeting is the software application that lets you make the video phone calls. You can make calls over a dial-up or broadband Internet connection. You just set up an address book and determine which directories you want to be listed in. (You can opt not to list your personal information in public directories if you wish). That way only people who know your e/mail address, and/or your name will be able to contact you. You can connect to the Video Phone software, or NetMeeting using your modem line or your telephone line. If you use your modem line, you won’t have to pay long distance charges.
You are probably wondering what else this little PC camera can do. Some fun things such as sending e/mail picture postcards or e/mail video postcards, are quite easy to do, as you just insert your picture or video clip in your postcard with a simple click of the mouse.
Intel’s Create & Share Software comes with tools that will allow you to create your own new content, such as still image snapshots and videos with your PC camera. The new images are automatically saved and appear in your Gallery. You can create audio clips very easily as well. You will need a microphone for your PC though.
The Gallery is where all of your video, audio, and still image files are stored. You just drag and drop your images between the Gallery and any other application. You can add images and video clips from other software right into the Gallery. For example, you could import an image from your scanner or digital camera. I import pictures from my scanner all the time and come up with some interesting creations.
I have never used the Movie Builder, but it enables you to make a movie with video, snapshots, titles narration that could be posted on one’s homepage, or something along those lines.
The Intel PC Camera Pack has a Home Page Builder as well for you to place your movies, pictures, created images, and whatever else you want to put into it. You can have an easy-to- use Home Page Builder to make Web pages with your own streaming video and snapshots without having to know how to build a Web page. There are a variety of templates that you can build from that make it extremely easy to play with.
The Create and Share Software allows you to play some sort of PC Camera games. There is a virtual basketball game and some sort of “pop your bubbles” game. I must admit, I don’t take time out for PC games so I really can’t tell you anything about them. They might be fun for a child.
A quick over view of the system requirements:
· Universal Serial Bus (USB) port
· Desktop or notebook PC with 166 MHZ Pentium processor
· Windows 98, 98SE, or Millennium Edition
· 32 MB RAM
· 800 x 600/16-bit display
· 100 MB hard disk drive space available
Some specifications of the camera
· 49-degree field of view
· 6-foot cable length
· Tilt-swivel base
· Automatic exposure and color control
· Tripod socket
· Multi-element lens with glass
Overall, the Intel PC Camera Pack have been a really great addition to my home office. You can find the Intel Web cams on sale for some great bargains if you keep your eye out for one. This one was purchased for $49.99 on sale during the holidays.
Recommended:
Yes
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Lajeaca
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Location: Tucson, Arizona
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