Intel ICP3 PC Camera Pack USB

by Intel

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000JX2V
• Item model number: IPC3
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

There are many to be creative with the Intel PC Camera Pack. Make videophone calls over your Internet connection or phone lines. Add excitement to your e-mail with video or snapshots recorded with your Intel PC Camera. Or take a break with fun PC Camera games that put you in the middle of the action. You'll appreciate the many features that make this PC Camera an incredible value--and a lot of fun.

From Winmag®

Digital video cameras for image capture, video capture and video conferencing are very mainstream nowadays and their uses are much clearer, if still varied. They are used for quick still image capture, webcams, low-quality video capture and video conferencing. The bottom line is that cameras need to be good quality, well made, have a good, sharp image and they need to be cheap.

Intel's digital video cameras have always missed on one of these critical points -- until now. The Intel PC Camera Pro Pak is a dynamite camera with good resolution, good speed, an incredible software bundle and a good price. Part of the reason is that this is now a USB camera and it is amazingly easy to install and quick to learn. The camera has lots of extra features like a sliding lens cover; a composite video connection on the camera for capture from a VCR or other video device; a tripod mount and an optional adapter for clipping the camera to a notebook.

Resolution for video is up to 640 by 480 with a real frame rate of 5 frames per second and good image quality. Frame rates at lower resolutions, particularly the popular video conferencing resolution of 160 by 120 are at close to 30 frames per second. Still image capture is also up to 640 by 480. You get Intel Video Phone software, email postcards, a snapshot utility, a scene recorder, a gallery application and utilities for taking automatic snapshots every few seconds for webcams or security; a movie builder and a home page builder. Plus some fun interactive games that make it easy to get used to the camera.

Intel includes features like the ability to send Intel video phone software to friends so they can connect with you and you can use any kind of network or dial up connection for the video phone. Again, quality and frame rates were good in practice, even over a V.90 phone line (where they are low, but good enough to be useful).

The camera can focus exceptionally close - as near as one inch and a simple focus wheel is on top of the camera along with a pushbutton for taking instant snapshots.

Overall this is an excellent, easy-to-use camera that is convenient for video conferencing, use as a webcam and good for instant snapshots. While it isn't the best camera available for snapshots, or for overall video quality, it is a great value and replaces the Logitech QuickCam Pro on our WinList. The Vicam remains the camera of choice for top-of-the-line quality at $299.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning quality. Beats more expensive cameras., November 5, 1999

By 

D. Notarnicola "Geek" (Parsippany, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Intel ICP3 PC Camera Pack USB (Personal Computers)

Very easy to set up. Great software included, gives you flexible settings. 100% compatible with MS Netmeeting. Outstanding picture quality. Beats VCs costing $150.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars O/S for PC Camera, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Intel ICP3 PC Camera Pack USB (Personal Computers)

Just a note - the software is not compatible with NT, only Win '95b or Win '98. Otherwise, picture quality is great, waiting for another family member to install to test sound.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent image quality and good features, February 2, 2000

By 

Henry Martinez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intel ICP3 PC Camera Pack USB (Personal Computers)

I compared this camera with the Creative Labs Web Cam 3. Intel Pc Camera shows a better and a superior image quality. The software is A+ plus, you can create videos, take photos or send cards through the internet. Dont forget the video conference capabilities (the package include two licences of Intel video phone software). But before you install this camera in your PC, go to tech customer support site to get the correct software ID number, (this is incorrectly labeled in the package). A special note; many friends are reporting configuration problems with pcs equiped with ATIs video cards or ATIs video software.