Customer Reviews

Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 Webcam

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

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.

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.

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...

This webcam SEEMS to be the best LAPTOP webcam in the market right now in terms of it megapixels. I believe that it would fit almost all of the laptops because the clip that fits to the laptop adjusts very easily.

I think the only comparable webcams are the ones of Logitech. Although Logitech webcams are not better in terms of megapixels, some webcams of Logitech are far much more expensive than this webcam and Logitech seems to be the leader in this market. Therefore if you want to be 100% sure of the best webcam in the market and if you have the opportunity, for instance if your friend/relative has a hightec webcam of Logitech, go and see it, then make your decision.

With respect to its features, all of them work great. I believe one of the most important issues that a webcam should have is a build-in mic that receives your voice crystal clear. This webcam proves to be so. As far as its image quality, as I indicated above, it is the best webcam in the market BUT bear in mind that during video calls the performance would not exceed a certain limit due to the softwares' (such as MSN, SKYPE) own settings. So do not expect that the receivers will receive your image in 2.0 megapixel quality. On the other hand I believe there is a possibility that the softwares or technology may improve and someday you would be able to use this webcam to the utmost. Nevertheless the receivers tell me that they receive my image really very very well. Also there is a light in the device that blinks when you try to connect to a video call which later stays when such connection is established. The camera seems to track your face. I believe it makes it very well. Nonetheless I do not recommend to move so frequently and avoid sudden movements, which, as far as I see, affects your video call quality.

This product gives better image quality in Windows Live Messenger. This is not only my observation, but also one of the features of the product written on its box.

In terms of it convenience, the lens part of the device pops into and out of the camera, which makes you feel comfortable for the lens. When the product is not in use, by poping the lens into the device, you don't feel concerned as to whether the lens is safe from scratches or subject to dust or etc. In addition, the product comes with a little carrying case. It's a little bit small but it would work when you travel.

Also you can add some video effects. I don't use it so much. The only thing I know is that it doesn't effect your image and the network speed, hence the quality of your video call.

In short, if you have a LAPTOP (otherwise it would be very inconvenient for you to use), especially if you are going to make video calls via Windows Live Messenger, this camera has excellent image quality -regardless of the limits of the Internet, network speed and softwares' own settings-, a build-in mic that receives your voice crystal clear. I highly recommend it.

Very compact, but with great resolution both with respect to audio and video. The installation, using bundled software drivers and MSFT Live Messenger, was a snap (easier than my parallel experience with Logitech QuckCam Communicate STX). The camera works equally well with SightSpeed, the other communications software package that I have used the camera with. Comes in a handy, very compact carrying case. Very high Cool Factor to the package and performance.

Below is my review of the camera but I just want to "up" the rating to four stars. I've got more bugs worked out of the camera and it does work pretty well. Below was written before the bugs were cleared up.

Received the webcam but the wire was loose and wouldn't record the voice with a video some of the time. The quality of the voice was lower in pitch and lagging behind a one minute (saved to my hard drive) video by about one second. I didn't know if the camera was the cause of the audio delay, considering the fact that the wire was loose. Received a replacement (great Amazon service) and the audio is still delayed behind the video and the pitch of the voice is still too low, when I save the video to file! (I haven't tested the camera with Live Messenger yet.) But I did try to hook up a small, independent microphone and use that as the primary audio and the saved videos are really good. The voice is now in sync with the video and the voice is at the correct pitch.

I have a Dell E 1705 and don't know if the computer is the cause of the continued NX 6000 audio problems or if the camera needs a driver fix. The picture in 640/480 resolution is really nice but anything over that and you see a noticeable decline in quality. When using the highest resolution setting, the frame rate is slowed way down so I won't even bother to use anything over 640/480 for my videos. The still picture capture quality is not as good as if you used your regular digital camera so I will only use that once-in-a-while.

I gave the camera 3 stars because of the audio problems, because I had to return the first camera, and because even though the camera boasts high resolution, that doesn't measure up. But again, the video quality in 640/480 pixels is really nice---although my skin color is shaded a little too blue or purple and I can't adjust that. But from what I've read about most other webcams out there, their video quality isn't as good as this camera.

I will now talk to a Dell representative to see if there is a fix for the audio problems through Dell. If there isn't, I'll still keep the camera because the small, plug in microphone works just fine. Wish there was better support for this camera through Microsoft!

Jerry

PROS:
I've used various web cameras before. But this one is the BEST one i've seen thus far. The pictures are "sharp" and a lot "less grainy" than other web cameras. Works great in low light. It even has more pixels than my $400 digial camera I bought a few years ago.

CONS:
Be careful. The pictures are soo sharp, that it can also show all the wrinkles on your face.

I bought two of these cameras. One for my mom and one for my family. Because we live so far away from each other, this will allow her to see her grandchildren more.

Setup was fairly easy, though long. I'd suggest using the Microsoft Live Messenger as the video chat client. It is one button to start to Video call. Just select the person you want to chat with and it takes care of every thing else.

We used the camera over Christmas and the kids just loved telling grandma everything they got, and also getting to show her as well. We even used a cellular data card (grandma was on DSL), and the video hardly missed a beat. We didn't use the audio though; the audio had somewhat of a noticable lag. So we used the handsfree cellphone. I think we were really stressing out that mobile data connection.

All in all, this is a great little device. I really like the way the lense retracts as to keep the dust off it.

I disagree strongly with the reviews before. My daughter owns a MS Livecam 3000 for much less in price and it beats this one by far. The picture is very smooth yes, BUT the colors are terrible and even manually there is no way to improve it, faces look magenta all over. The two megapixels are for nothing because if you choose anything higher than 800x600 resolution you will get a delay of up to seconds on your screen within the LiveCam program and even with videos captured on your harddisk you can see this effect, so the higher resolution is worth nothing. This is with a brandnew Core2Duo machine 1Gig of mem so it is not the speed of the computer in my view.
I would keep the cam if it would be cheaper say in a range of 30 bucks but not for this money.

This camera offers a decent image and a lot of interesting functions. But if you only need video conference online, probably this camera is way too "good". $40 one can also offer you same quality. Extra features won't help in online video conference.
Another thing is it's not friendly to thinkpad. The hook on the back is a little bit too small. T60 is barely OK, T43 and below model users, forget it.