I should have reviewed this product at least five years ago at the height of its popularity. Due to my lack of timing I have perhaps missed out on all the glowing remarks the Intel CS430 deserves.
On a Windows 98 platform, the CS430 was the best webcam ever!
Even by today’s standards its output was far better than the GE Minicam Pro I purchased at Target the other day.
You see, I strongly suggest if you are looking for a web camera and have Windows 98 or Windows ME – check out buying the Intel Pro PC CS430 web cam. BUT…I strongly ask you to resist, if you are looking for a web camera and have Windows XP.
The Windows 98 Review: (imagine it was five years ago)
For quite some time I’ve been thinking about getting on this webcam fad. My office has a nice view of the 101,…besides my apartment in Hayward is pretty cool and maybe someone will want to see that.
Regardless, if I broadcast my web cam I’m sure several friends will get a kick out of seeing me as I type on the computer.
Ah, technically, I settled on the Intel CS430 for one main reason. Unlike other web cameras it has a video input jack located on its rear next to its USB cable. To me, this meant that that CS430 was looking forward. A lot of web cameras are designed solely to take images of subjects and their worth is based solely on their ability and quality to do so. Yet with the CS430 Intel was playing that game but also looking forward to what their consumers may want out of a web camera, or a camera attached to a computer.
By using the CS430 I could use its features as a web camera, but using the built in video input connector I could transfer video from a third-party source such as a video camera or VCR and transfer it to my computer. From there I can do whatever my software and computer knowledge allowed.
Another reason the CD430 has been a great product – it works well under low light! (break from 5 years ago) Years later I would buy another web cam (GE Minicam Pro) and it would be horrible under low light. (end break)
If you are like me and have a PC equipped with Windows 98 – I seriously and honestly entrust that you consider purchasing the Intel CS430.
The best camera you can buy!
The Windows XP Review: (today, 2004, except for some retrospect)
Two weeks ago I learned that I’m moving to another state. I’m excited. I’m ecstatic! Every day I said to myself as I look up into the sky while p*ssing outside (bad habit from my farm days) – I want out of this place!
Yet, I know that there is so much to do. So many things to pack or sell. As my eye glared around the room I centered on this white/blue web cam that I haven’t used in ages.
I thought about installing it on my new Dell XP, but was afraid.
For I tried to install my old Backpack CD burner on it and Windows automatically flashed up that the hardware caused a fatal error – an error, message, I have yet to remedy.
For a few moments I thought my best option was to buy another web cam (initial failure!) but I decided eventually to give my old Intel CS430 another chance at the spotlight.
I put the CS430 CD into my Dell and it promptly displayed that my camera would not work with Windows XP.
Determined, I did a search online. I read…
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/filter_results.asp?strOSs=45&strTypes=COD%2CDRV%2CSPH%2CUTL&ProductID=459&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Home+Edition&submit=Go%21
There was hope. I followed the instructions to a “T” – but I soon came to realize that my old Intel CS430 was really designed for an earlier generation (like most of my movies, music, furniture, etc). There was no hope.
So yes, at 28, I must say, if you see the CS430 on eBay or in a classified ad I have to say, with sorrow, that you should consider that the product was designed to work for the earlier generation.
If you own the old folks version of Windows 95 or 3.11 OR the hip Windows XP, you will be out of luck to use the Intel CS430.
Regardless: Intel CS430 comes packaged with the CS430 web camera that includes a video (yellow) jack at its rear. The camera lens itself is protected by a plastic shield that you can close when you desire. By using the included software on Windows 98 you can optimize the included blue button on top of the CS430. A simple press and the camera will take a picture of your subject and have it automatically appear on your PC. Perfect for taking pictures of items to be sold on eBay.
The included software allows you to take pictures, to record short videos, and to even play a game using the camera where you use your fingers to pop bubbles that appear above your projected head – don’t pop the anvil!
Image quality is quite good especially in low light. The camera is constant adjusting itself to achieve optimal video quality. To help improve quality a little bit, there is also an focus dial on the top of the camera which allows you to focus in and out.
Image size is actually quite small. I’m not good with calculating pixels off the top of my head, but the best quality picture comes from the smallest image size which is about the size of a postcard. You can increase the size but as it gets bigger the camera itself gets slower and the image quality suffers.
The stand is made out of cheap plastic but it holds the camera really well. There’s circular sticker on the end if you want to fasten the camera more permanently to something like your monitor but I never took mine off. I just positioned it on top of my monitor and it stayed there never falling off.
Conclusion
By far Intel CS430 has been the best web cam I have used. I honestly don’t know where to go from here. I know I need to buy another web cam because my technology has upgraded but my initial purchase the GE Minicam Pro failed so bad I’m seething!
There was a shimmer of hope…for a moment that the CS430 would work with Windows XP’s technology. I installed the CD…I installed the update. It worked slightly with Yahoo’s IM but it won’t work in the long run.
Maybe I’ll keep it around for sentimental sake or sell it on eBay.
Takes both photo and video images 640 x 480 maximum resolution 16.8 million colors Progressive-scan CCD image sensor Up to 30 frames per second for fu...More at Amazon Marketplace
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