Customer Reviews

3Com 001689 Bigpicture Video Phone

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Pros: Great image quality, accurate-focus quality and perfect exposure in the background and foreground. Camera can also capture video frames from camcorders and VCRs. Unlike most desktop cameras, the Bigpicture has controls on the camera itself to control power, contrast, backlighting, white balance and image quality.

Cons: The images that the Big-picture camera produced were a little dark. Installation might be a bit tricky if the person installing is not familir with the insides of a PC.

I also own the 3com homeconnect digital camera, and have tested out numerous other USB webcams (Logitech quickcam pro, Kodak DVC325, Intel Create & Share) and have to say that the two 3com cams stand out.

I have both a USB Video Phone Camera and this PCI Video Phone Camera and I found the USB one is half the price and better quality.

This product is a pain to install and doesn't run on Windows NT or Linux. And the company doesn't even bother to post any updates to this product for Windows users. The the positive side, it does have a good mic.

I'm sure this camera is fine for net-chats, but this device reaches its full potential for online auctions. Simply put your item on a lazy-susan, give it a spin, and take your video. This instantly provides a 3D effect for your customers. As for the camera...it is hard to get the camera level. The tension on the cord is enough to swivel it. And dont planning on using this with windows in the background; it makes a white glow around your face. However, the framerate is wonderful, and the picture is better than average for consumer-grade computer cameras. I'd recommend this camera to an online merchant rather than a nethead. Get a USB camera if you want to talk over the net.

I purchased this cam several years ago and worked wonderfully in Windows 95 and 98. However, Windows 2000 will not recognize the driver. I contacted 3Com and was told that this product has reached the end of its life and they do not support it. If your OS is Windows 2000 (and probably XP too), do not buy this product. It will not work!

doesn't support windows 2000 at all. Too bad, it could be a great camera/capture board but 3com refuses to support it.

I'am sorry to said that 3 com drop the ball with a good product.If the company had any brains they would pick up this product and run with it.This camera has the highest quality and frame rate out of all cams out there.The problem is that 3 Com wont support the drivers for XP.So all I can say is that for a big company like 3Com wakeup and smell the coffee or in time you'll be out of business to.

Once again 3Com has demonstrated they are more concerned with wrestling your money away from you than they are with your satisfaction with their product support. I bought 2 of these cameras in 1999 and have been using them to video conference with my kids while I'm away at my remote work location. They work great and the capture cards and software provided allow you to easily capture and edit video from a VCR. But I recently purchased new replacement PC's that run Windows XP and none of the application software or installation drivers will work. Nor is there any assistance for this product available at the 3Com product support web site. I applaud the high quality and service life of the 3com product, but really, what good is it if the drivers and applications aren't going to maintain compatibility with Operating System revisions? For product durability, ease of use, and application software I would rate this product 5 stars, but for customer support, or the total lack of, which has ultimately rendered my purchase unusable, 3com earns a big "Zero."

I received this wonderful camera in the mail and set it upwithin the hour. The PCI video card gave me a little bit of trouble but nothing I can't handle. My hat goes off to all the fine technicians in this company who put together such a fine piece of equipment.