Grandma gets a webcam
Written: Feb 26 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to install and use, clear quality picture and sound.
Cons: none that I've found
The Bottom Line: I recommend this for older folks who need things to be easy to understand and to use. Excellent quality picture and sound.
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| sele's Full Review: IBM VEO Connect Advanced Webcam - USB |
I recently received a gift of money from my sweetheart, who asked me to use it to buy a webcam. We live a long distance from each other, and meet daily on a voice/cam chat program to keep in touch.
My knowledge of webcams was zilch, I knew nothing about
them. And, I tend to panic when confronting new things, my
old brain gets confused easily. I called my son, who told me a few things to look for. He said to make sure it requires a USB port, and that it has a very clear list of system requirements on the box.
After checking out many brands, I decided on the Veo
Advanced Connect, mainly because instructions seemed to be
very easy and complete .. extremely important for us older folks who are not very computer savvy.
I found a booklet in the box which contained very simple instructions, and a CD which contained the installation software. I was amazed that it only took a few minutes to install.
We tested it out the next morning on the voice/cam chat program, and found it to be very satisfactory. My sweetheart said that the quality of the picture was excellent, and colors clear and sharp. Watching him on his webcam, I saw that he smiled a lot seeing me so clearly, so he was pleased with my purchase.
In subsequent days, I discovered that the Veo Advanced
Connect is not just a webcam....it does many things, and it has many wonderful features, which make it a true bargain in my view. Those features are:
1. It contains a built-in microphone, which is very sensitive and picks up your voice and other sounds very clearly. This allowed me to get rid of that old external mic. However, the internal mic can be switched off, if you find external mics more desirable.
2. There are settings in the software which enable you to clearly focus your cam, and also, on the cam itself, there is a focus device, allowing you to soften or sharpen the picture.
3. The digital studio program which installs with the cam allows you to take snapshots of yourself or others and then attach them to emails for sharing with friends and relatives.
4. In the studio program, you can also make videos, which are .avi files, and also attach and email them. These are like little movies and can be very fun to make and to view.
5. One can also make audio clips....short voice messages or music...and attach them to email, or store for playing later.
6. The studio program contains an E-card Creator. It enables you to make wonderful virtual e-cards with animations or music, audio/video clips, and/or still photos.
7. Also in the studio program, one can make a homepage using the homepage editor. Simple, very complete instructions make it simple to make a homepage and link it with other homepages.
This cam is compatible with many voice/chat programs. I have tried it on Yahoo, Netmeeting, and Paltalk, and have not had any problems.
The booklet contains instructions for using this webcam with older computers or operating systems, where to find needed drivers if needed, and many troubleshooting questions are answered. It also contains website and phone numbers for more in-depth support.
I have used the webcam many, many times and find it more than satisfactory, for my purposes. I recommend it highly to other elders who may be afraid to try something new. Easy to install, easy to use, and adds so much pleasure to a chat, when you can see the smiles of family and friends.
The Veo Advanced Connect comes with a two-year limited
warranty.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sele
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Location: Kennewick, Washington, USA
Reviews written: 88
Trusted by: 46 members
About Me:
To soar with eagles, one must first learn to fly.
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