Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Webcam

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.2 x 3.5 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000GOUE7Y
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 94N-00001
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #100 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Webcams
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 13, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Share the moment with the Microsoft® LifeCam NX-6000—wherever you are. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the road, keeping in touch with friends, family, and business associates is easy with the Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000. This compact, reliable webcam was designed especially for notebook computers. It delivers High Definition 2.0 megapixel video and 7.6 megapixel photos and comes with a wide-angle lens, 3× digital zoom, a carrying case, and more! Fully integrated with Windows Live™ Messenger, it has a built-in Windows Live Call Button for easy calling and one-touch blogging.

Features

See Clearly 2.0 megapixel High Definition video resolution* 7.6 megapixel High Definition still photos (1280 x 960 pixels, interpolated)** Wide-Angle lens with 71 degree field of view 3x digital zoom
Hear More Crystal-clear audio Built-in unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation Automatic audio control for enhanced sound clarity
Notebook Mobility Ultra-compact notebook webcam for video calling Retractable lens stores in the webcam body to prevent damage during travel Lens swivels up and down for a perfect view Clip adjusts to most notebooks Carrying case included
Optimized for Windows Live Photo Swap: Share and swap photos live during a video call Windows Live Call Button: The easy way to start a video call LifeCam Dashboard: Controls built into the conversation window One-Touch Blogging: Add photos to Windows Live Spaces
*Lower resolution available when sending video via instant messaging. **One megapixel (MP) = 1,000,000 pixels.

How to Make a Video Call:

With a simple calling interface and integration with Microsoft LifeCams, you'll find that video calling is the next best thing to being there. It's easy, it's free, and you can get started today. All you need is a PC, an Internet connection, an ISP, a webcam, and a friend. Then follow the steps below to make a video call.

Step 1 Buy and install a LifeCam. Don't have one? Start shopping.		Step 2 Sign in to your Windows Live™ Messenger account or other messenger service that supports video calls.		Step 3 Once you are signed in you can either choose a contact on the Instant Messenger window, or press the video call button on your webcam. Then click the Video link to start a video call.

Find a Webcam That's Right for You:

Best: Better: Good:
Webcam	LifeCam Cinema	LifeCam Show	LifeCam NX-6000	LifeCam NX-3000	LifeCam VX-5000	LifeCam VX-2000
Video Sensor	720p HD	2.0 MP	2.0 MP	VGA	VGA	VGA
Photo Size	8 MP	8 MP	8 MP	1.3 MP	1.3 MP	1.3 MP
Focus Type - Always Focused means that no fine tuning is needed as the webcam is always in focus from a depth of 21" to 60"	Auto Focus	Always Focused	Always Focused	Always Focused	Always Focused	Fixed Focus
Digital Zoom - delivers realistic, up-close-and-personal video, so you can see the contours of every smile	5x	5x	3x	3x	3x	3x
Wide-Angle Lens - the 71 degree wide angle lens ensures no one gets left out of the pictures	Yes	Yes
Built-In Microphone - a built-in unidirectional microphone cancels out acoustic noise and echo for crystal-clear audio	Digital, Noise-Cancelling	Noise-Cancelling	Noise-Cancelling	Noise-Cancelling	Noise-Cancelling	Noise-Cancelling
Fits Laptops or PCs	Both	Both	Laptops only	Laptops only	Both	Both

System Requirements Windows® 7, Windows Vista® or Windows® XP Home/Pro/Media Center Edition/Tablet PC Edition with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later Intel Pentium® 4 1.4 GHz ( 2.4 GHz recommended) or higher 300 MB free Sound card with speakers or headphones USB 1.1 (USB 2.0 recommended); USB 2.0 required for 1.3 MP video CD drive Internet functions (post to Windows LiveTM Spaces, send in e-mail, video calls) also require: Broadband (cable, DSL, or other) modem

Recommended Accessories:

Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset		Microsoft LifeChat LX-2000 Headset		Microsoft LifeChat LX-1000 Headset

Product Description

Whether you're at home, in the office, or on the road, keeping in touch with friends, family, and business associates is easy with the LifeCam NX-6000. Compact and reliable, this webcam was designed especially for notebook computers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars pros and cons...., January 4, 2007

By 

kkc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Webcam (Personal Computers)

I used default settings. 640x480.

What I like:

+ the small size

+ I have been told picture quality is very good at the other end (I have used it with Skype only)

+ the built in mic - works well, although on some Skype calls, there was feedback from the speakers to the recipient. Mic works well from a distance. Also when the mic is on the Microsoft logo lights up which is a good visual cue.

+ spring loaded camera - when its in, you are guaranteed privace


What I don't like:

- One very annoying negative: this webcam mic has no echo cancellation. after many complaints from people at the other end of the line, I finally disabled the mic in the webcam and now use another mic.

- the spring loaded clip is difficult to adjust and feels like it could break. Having said that it will hold on my beveled edge Dell Inspiron laptop which also has a plastic colour plate

- inability to easily swivel or tilt (you have to do it via the software using combination of zoom, pan and tilt functions)

- when I first installed it, the sound received via Skype was constantly being cut off. I uninstalled the LifeCam software as well as MS Live Messenger, then re-installed LifeCam software only. Works fine now, but not always reliably...

- there is a button on top of the cam which is hard to avoid pressing when you move the camera. This button starts MS Live Messenger if installed and if not then it throws up an annoying window asking you to install Live Messenger. This is very irritating. One should be able to disable the button or re-assign it to another application. Wake up Microsoft....

- the USB cable is too short (about 1.5ft). If you want to pan around the room or place the cam elsewhere - the cable could be too short. Not a big deal though.

- LifeCam software (v1.21.113.0) can be a bit buggy....e.g. I have just lost half the picture (the screen only displays the left 33%, the rest is all white...!)but picture is fine at 2 mp resolution. Unpluggng and re-plugging in the USB fixes this.

- no way of adjusting the frame rate although this adjustment does not seem necessary

Nice to have
- it would be nice to have a sound cue for whenever the mic or camera come on in addition to the light comming on the front

- an additional flexible stand so that the webcam can be placed on a desk or some other surface would be a great thing to have - they can dump the carry case to keep costs down and add better value.

So far I have only used it with Skype. I will test it with Yahoo and MSN Messenger when I have the time.

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very easy to use, very nice quality, December 5, 2006

By 

Thomas B. Gross (Winchester, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Webcam (Personal Computers)

I needed to buy a webcam to do videoconferencing with relatives in Italy. I decided to buy a Microsoft product because I could be sure it would be the most conventional, mainstream webcam available. I decided to get this model because it appears to be the top-of-the-line for Microsoft, with a 2 Megapixel video resolution (as well as a 7+ Megapixel still camera built-in).

This particular model is designed to attach to the top of a laptop. It does not fit securely on the top of a flat panel display, but with a little tape it is quite usable. I am very impressed by the quality of the picture, and the ease of use of the hardware and software. What most impressed me however was the noise cancellation done by the software, so that the camera's microphone does not create feedback from the PC's speakers (something that telephones do that most of us just take for granted).

It worked like a charm for our internet videoconference with my in-laws in Italy. Really great. I have already ordered a second one to give as a gift.

Note: this model is really designed to use with a laptop. I had to use tape to attach it to the top of my flat panel display and I had to use a USB extension cord to reach the PC under my desk.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BEST camera for a road warrior..., March 2, 2007

By 

A. Mandeville "Somanytools" (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Webcam (Personal Computers)

I bought this unit and it works "great". Not good in dim light and no focus adjustment so nothing past 4 feet...
If you want a portable cam with easy setup and great video its for you.
But if you want a cam with more fetures and your not in need of the portability try the Philips 900nc..better unit with more features and killer dim light ability..read my review there for more...