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Thread ID: 97847 2009-03-01 20:56:00 Web cam etc to use with Skype John H (8) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
752589 2009-03-02 04:56:00 You could get something like this if you wanted:

www.trademe.co.nz

But make sure you have a free slot:)

And make sure your internet connection is fast enough for voip, so you can communicate stutter free. Also, configure QOS if your router allows it to give highest priority to skype
Blam (54)
752590 2009-03-02 05:02:00 Groan, how can I be generations behind already????? :o

Thanks for the other info and TradeMe ref. I have four slots, with paired RAM sticks in two of them. I gather with this thing it is best if I get another pair... Sigh.
John H (8)
752591 2009-03-02 05:05:00 TBH IMHO you won't need an extra 1gb if you're a simple user, 1gb will be sufficient

Since you currently got 2x512mb sticks in dual channel adding another 2x512mb in dual channel would be a nice performance increase indeed. But 1x1gb stick will prob cheaper and you won't much performance difference between 2x512mb and 1x1gb anyways, so I wouldn't worry too much about it

Blam
Blam (54)
752592 2009-03-02 09:49:00 There is a big difference in camera performance. Some of the cheapies even have plastic lenses. If you a sharp and crystal clear image for the other person to see, then you need a quality item and the grunt to drive it.
I found a really great imformative article www.consumersearch.com
Tbird650 (6754)
752593 2009-03-02 10:27:00 Pity, it doesnt support DV cams (yet)

Otherwise, I would this use DV cam
Speedy Gonzales (78)
752594 2009-03-02 21:51:00 Thanks everyone. Lots of useful info. I will get a webcam and try it out with the RAM I currently have in the box, and upgrade it if it struggles.

In the article supplied by TBird, it looks like Logitech is the way to go.

Thanks again.
John H (8)
752595 2009-03-02 22:50:00 I'm using one on an AMD 1.6 (754 pin), with 1.25 GB of ram. Its fine

I would say the diff will be, whether youre on broadband or dialup.

Not the system specs

Logitech cams are good, BUT the install program installs too much crap on your system

Some cams, you have to install their own programs, just to get the thing to work. Others, all you have to do, is install the drivers. And it'll work with anything that can use a cam
Speedy Gonzales (78)
752596 2009-03-02 22:59:00 Thanks Speedy. I am on the Telstra Clear PDQ Turbo plan. However, I note that (I this read somewhere that I can no longer find) that you only get optimal performance for one of those Logitech cameras if your upload rate is 384 kps - otherwise you get choppy video. My plan says the max upload rate is 128 kps.

Thanks also for the heads up about crap installation. I had read something about that on the site referred to by TBird. Apparently you choose Logitech for quality of camera and lens and put up with crap software, or you choose Microsoft for great software installation (huh?) but a crappy camera compared with Logitech!
John H (8)
752597 2009-03-02 23:03:00 Well, things like congestion / lag, can make it choppy

If the internet wasnt so crappy in NZ, then it'd probably be fine all the time
Speedy Gonzales (78)
752598 2009-03-02 23:14:00 Yeah, it will be interesting to see what communication is like from this banana republic to a remote area of South Western Australia. I doubt that Skype itself will be a problem - I used to use it for hour long conversations with Pitcairn Is and rarely had any problems (and even those were minor). It will be the vision I guess.

Why my daughter wants to see her Old Fart father whilst we talk, goodness only knows. Maybe if she gets choppy video she will think I am developing Parkinsonism or alcoholic tremors...
John H (8)
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