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What makes one 'web camera' better then the NEXT ... What specs should I look for ...

When buying a 'web camera' for use on your PC (to show live video of yourself via Instant Messenger) ... what are the best features to look for?
To me, all these lower-end camera for use on the web or for 'conferences' seem to all have the same specs. Most of them are lined up on the store shelves for about 50-90 bucks in $ range.

What will make a camera run FASTER video output? Is that speed left up to the hosting program (ex. Yahoo IM)?

What can I do to make a live video conference using a web camera go FAST ... like in real time?

How about using my own camcorder? Is this subject I ask about mostly hardware or software related?

Thanks in advance for your time and any reply!

Irwin Santos

"What will make a camera run FASTER video output? Is that speed left up to the hosting program (ex. Yahoo IM)?"
This is a combination of your computer's power, & network environment speed. Your IM hosting service is also a factor as it is routing the information between your machine and the other machine(s)

"What can I do to make a live video conference using a web camera go FAST ... like in real time?"
The camera and computer combination that you have must be dishing out images at 30fps (frames per second) and the bandwidth that you use must be able to transport this. It is highly unlikely that you will ever achieve REAL TIME, probably a second delay between transmission would be the best you could actually achieve.

"How about using my own camcorder? Is this subject I ask about mostly hardware or software related?"
Camcorder will work if you associated software that would interface the camera to your computer.

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TheRookie32

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