12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Web Camera
Date of Review: Apr 19, 2007
The Bottom Line: This a wonderful camera because of the resolution of 7.6MP for stand alone photos and 2.0MP for Videos.
This is a good web camera that clips to a laptop monitor. I have to say the microphone is built in as well. The resolution goes up to 7.6 mega pixels for photos and 2.0 mega pixels for video. It's small and the camera slides into the unit. With a push the camera slides right out, I like this feature the best. Also the camera head twists up and down. I really have to say I enjoy this camera. I had an older IBM web camera and this camera is far better.
Included in the package: A small case for the web camera, the LifeCam 1.3 CD-ROM, manual that is very brief, also a free theme pack from Kiwee, and a warranty card.
The theme pack from Kiwee adds emoticons to Windows Live messenger. For anyone who does not know what Emoticons are, they are a way to send winks and smiles through instant messages. This coupon needs to be used before 6/6/07.
Caution you need to install the software before plugging in the USB plug into the computer. There is a sticker on the USB plug that also states this. The installation was a bit confusing at first. Insert the CD-ROM in your CD/DVD-rom drive and it will start right up. About halfway through the installation you need to click on a link so you can download Windows Live Messenger. This will install to your hard drive. There will be three new directories created after the LifeCam 1.3 CD-ROM is finished. The Windows Messenger will take up about 26.5 megabytes of hard drive space. This installs by default to the c:\program files\msn messenger directory.
The Microsoft LifeCam will take up about 12.1 megabytes of hard drive space. The directory is located in the c:\program files\microsoft lifecam by default.
Once the software gets installed then the software will prompt that the USB cable needs to be installed to the computer. The direction booklet shows how the USB cable needs to be plugged in. Now here is the kink, if you do not have a Windows Live Account, you will need to create one. If you want to use the Windows Live Call software or the Windows Live Messenger software. There is a button on top of the camera; if pressed automatically pops up the Windows Live Messenger software. So now for the fun part let s get into the heart of the software and how well this camera functions. There is going to be an Icon loaded on the desktop called Microsoft LifeCam. This will call the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft LifeCam\LifeCam.exe" executable that will load the application. When the camera is turned on; the Microsoft logo lights up on the camera. This is a great feature.
Once the LifeCam application is open the Microsoft logo will light up on the camera. The Microsoft LifeCam application opens into a window. If you click on the icon in the Microsoft LifeCam window you only have three options, minimize, restore and move the window around.
I have not been able to change the size of the window or box depending on how certain users want to call this. I digress forgive me please Right across from the Microsoft LifeCam on the right hand side is a drop down arrow. This arrow is the drop down menu, the options are as follows:
Microsoft Hardware Web Site: This takes you to the www.http://microsoft.com/hardware website. Properties: The properties has two tabs the first one is Video Proc Amp: This is where you will be able to change the brightness, contrasts, hue, saturation, sharpness, gamma, white balance, backlight comp, and default. So you can play around with all of the setting. If you think you might have made it worse don t panic, just click on default and it will set it back to the way it was. There is also the apply and cancel button as well.
The second tab is camera control: this has zoom, pan, tilt and again the default button. You can play around with these setting. If you think it was better before just click on the default button. There is also the apply and cancel button as well. Flicker: This is where you can change the setting for outside and indoors. If your outside there is only one button to click, and the inside option has 50Hz or 60Hz. Here you only have OK and Cancel. This changes the speed. Audio and Video Setup: This is a menu wizard that will step you through about getting the audio on the microphone setup up correctly for your Microsoft LifeCam and also help you find the correct video setup. Check for updates: If you click on this it will go to Microsoft s site and check if there are any updates. So far there has not been any for me to try this out 100%. Help: This is a pretty good online help much better than the book. Give very good tips about creating clips and sharing the clips and videos that have been taken and recorded. About: This gives information about what version the software is, and copyright information.
Now that we have touched on all of the options let s look at another function in the LifeCam. This is called the Dashboard. The Dashboard is full of different kinds of effects. These effects you can add in if you wanted to place them into your web cam videos and web photos. There are about 38 different effects you can choose from some of them are even animated.
On the main center of the window there are three pictures, one looks like a camera this icon will be used to take still web photos. The next one in the center is an icon of a microphone. You will need to click on the microphone to record. The last one is an icon of film. This is the one that you will use to record yourself for a web video. Just make sure that you click the microphone on first. I have made that mistake a few times.
The last icon on the upper right hand side is video resolution and photo resolution.
This camera really outshines in my opinion because of the following resolutions that this LifeCam can support.
Video Resolutions that are supported are: 160x120, 176x144, 320x240, 352x288, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1.3MP and 2.0MP. The MP stands for Mega Pixel. The 2.0MP is going to give you the best video resolution. The only drawback is going to be that the files are going to take up more hard drive space. Photo Resolution has two buttons, which are same as video or 7.6MP. If you are using 2.0MP you photos will be in that resolution but if you change it to 7.6MP this will give you super sharp pictures that you take of yourself.
At the bottom of the window of the LifeCam there is an icon of an envelope, this will allow you to email your videos or photos. The next icon will let you post your photos or videos to a blogs in Microsoft Live Space. Microsoft Live Space is Microsoft s version of Myspace.
The last icon is a folder. If you click on the folder, this will take you to all of the videos and photos that have been captured using the Microsoft LifeCam.
In closing I am very pleased with the Microsoft LifeCam. I bought this for around $79.95. I am impressed by the features that this product has offered and the built in microphone is very clear sounding with recording voices. I wish the manual was a better and a bit clearer on what I need to do with installing the CD-ROM. Other than the manual I have been having fun using my new webcam to stay in touch with friends and family.
