Just bought the lifecam VX 1000 but dont know how to work it. I would like a cam that will work using different instant messenger services and or conference calls. Any recommendations?

Plug it in and restart your computer, most hardware today is plug and play. However, if your new cam came with a driver disk install the driver. If you want to test it out my MSN is fenabar@hotmail.com. Perhaps it would be easier to help you with some live chat.

James

^^^ he pretty much said it all

and every messanger aol, yahoo msn w.e has a link or button u can click to connect it to webcam and start a live stream

although in my experience AOL is kinda crappy bad framerate or maybe it was just my cam who knows

thats pretty much how mine works from home - can use at will
this one however, wants me to install windows live, must have a username@live.com and does not allow me to use w/other programs

wanted to know if I did something wrong?

it wont work on other messengers ?
thats weird
usually even if they have a preference you can get around it, try checkin the Cam preference page and see if any restrictions are turned on n check em off

still wants me to download windows live but sucks only recognizes username@live.com - cant use with other messenger services.

any suggestions on which type/brand to get, because this crap is going back

Skype is the best VOIP program out there. (IMO) Much better than MSN and AOL is and always has been dire

I have a little camera from Logitech that sits on my laptop and it has a very good microphone built in.

Check the Logitech website.

I have found them to be cheap and very good

thanks will look into it

I use a cheapie webcam made by Creative (VF 0350). While it doesn't do auto-focus (you have to tweak a ring around the lens), it DOES work with all IM protocols. I know because I tried it out and it works.

Did I mention it was cheap, too?

my type of cam

It's also got a built-in microphone, so you don't have to go around buying a separate unit to plug into your sound card.

And it's STILL pretty cheap.

returned the camera to the store, asked the clerk for a basic cam w/sound - plug and play type. The cam's that come with a disc/program included normally want you to use only their program vs the other free instant messaging types. Clerk told me there was no such thing???

Are they right?

You've lost me ...

Why haven't you got an MSN passport account?

I have, but I only use it for downloads from Microsoft or MSN. I never check for emails or login to anywhere else with it, it's just used for their sites (I'm not even sure it still has my own address since I've moved house twice since I first registered).

Re: my cam won't work with other software.

That's because you haven't downloaded the Generic drivers that you need to drive it ... < Advertisement> Available from Microsoft free of charge. <End AD).

Try the cams made by Creative (mine's a VF0350). They use driver software (to interface the webcam with the computer), but you should be able to it with any of the IM protocols, like Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, and Skype. All the other software is just fancy-pants calibration software and other non-essential stuff.

My cams an LTI AMcam, got it from eBay for a fiver (about $10.00). The pic on the left is a cap. from it via ACDsee. Works with Trillion, Yahoo, Google, MSNLive. Came complete with mini-disc containing Drivers and Manual.