Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500 (White)

Other products by Microsoft

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 3 inches ; 6.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001C3V54O
• Item model number: E4C-00001
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #810 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Webcams

• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 9, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

Overview:

The Microsoft® LifeCam VX-5500 lets you hold video calls with friends, coworkers, and family in high-quality video and audio, no matter where you are. It's attractive, easy, and fun to use–the extra faceplates let you pick the color that matches your personal style.

Features:

Video Messages Easily exchange Video Messages using your LifeCam!		Extra Faceplates In white and blue–choose your color.		Video Effects Facial exaggerations, Filters, and 3D accessories.
Photo Swap Share and swap photos live during a video call.		Windows Live™ Call Button The easy way to start a video call.		One-Touch Blogging Add photos to Windows Live Spaces.

Additional Features: Send Video Messages to anyone, anywhere, anytime–even if they are not online Crystal-clear audio Unidirectional microphone Always focused Auto-adjusts for low-light conditions Folds flat

System Requirements: Windows Vista® Intel Pentium® 4 2.8 GHz (for Pentium Dual-Core 1.8 GHz or higher recommended), 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended) Hard drive 200–600 MB available or Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz (for Pentium 4, 3 GHz or higher recommended) 256 MB of RAM (500 MB recommended) Hard drive 400–1250 MB available Windows-compatible speakers or headphones Broadband Internet access required; access fees may apply USB 1.1 (USB 2.0 recommended) CD-ROM drive Display adapter capable of 16-bit color depth or higher, 2 MB or higher video memory

Product Description

Share Your World with Friends and Family¿from Anywhere, Anytime. The Microsoft® VX-5500 webcam lets you hold video calls with friends, coworkers, and family in high-quality video and audio, no matter where you are. It¿s attractive, easy, and fun to use¿the extra faceplates let you pick the color that matches your personal style.

• Send Video Messages to anyone, anywhere, anytime–even if they are not online
• Crystal-clear audio
• Unidirectional microphone
• Always focused
• Auto-adjusts for low-light conditions
• Folds flat

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good webcam - no need to install the software, though., February 22, 2009

By	The Matrix Fan "Video Gamer since 1979." - See all my reviews

Length:: 6:19 Mins

This is me talking on the webcam - it's VERY easy to install, VERY easy to use, but I didn't find it necessary to install all the bells and whistles.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beware the EULA!, January 7, 2009

By	Pam Tee "Harmless" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The Lifecam 5500 is a cute little webcam that's extremely portable and has a nice long cord. It even comes with three different colored faceplates - dark red, blue, white-- so that you can integrate it into your 'look'. Built-in microphone, of course.

Technicals:::

Size: 1.75-inch-by-1.75-inch square
Connect: Uses a Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin Type A
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Min. Processor: 1.8 gHz
VGA sensor that captures 640x480 video and still 1.3-megapixel images.
Warranty: 3 year
License: extensive rights assertion


I tested the VX 5500 on an older PC running XP/home. The first thing that I noticed, besides the fact that there seemed to be a lot of packaging, was that there was a tag on the USB that said that the software should be installed before the camera is plugged in.

I did NOT, however, follow that advice because I could not agree to the Licensing Agreement. [For more on that, See the Con's.] Instead I just plugged it in and waited to see if the software I had previously loaded for my Gigaware webcam would work. It did. Perhaps it is because I used other drivers that I ran into no installation problem like others have commented on. I just plugged the cam in and it worked.

RESULTS:::

Pros :::
o Plugged right in and worked on our XP Home system.
o It works with non-Microsoft drivers.
o It worked with Google video chat.
o It has a Great stand. You can use it with a laptop or PC. (The Gigaware cam we purchased is only for laptops)
o 3D effects (requires software and internet downloads)
o It handles dim lighting conditions well. [Contrarily it tends to wash out in bright light.]
o Cord length is a nice 6 foot. (Longer than the Gigaware webcam by a foot!)
o 3 year Warranty


Cons :::
o The camera tends to wash out in bright light; it does better in dim light.
o Not compatible with Macs
o Invasive User Agreement (EULA) enables automatic updates and data collection.

Generally speaking, this is a nice webcam. It compared favorably with the Gigaware cam and the 5500 dealt with dim light conditions much better. If you are into such things, there are 'fun' 3D effects like hats and what not that you can download.

I'm going to give this product 4-Stars because it's reasonably priced and does a good job. HOWEVER, if a draconian EULA bothers you I would recommend the Gigaware Webcam as an alternative. It is roughly the same price, slightly higher resolution and the EULA doesn't give Gigaware unlimited access to your computer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice little Webcam, not so nice software, February 26, 2009

By	Jonathan Strawn (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Length:: 1:23 Mins

This video shows the video quality of the camera. Recorded on a Mac Pro, using Quicktime Pro software. Encoded for upload as FLV video at high quality settings.