The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam

I had used a webcam a long time ago, and it had pretty much bit the big one after a few years of use. I decided it was time to get a new one, so I decided to go with the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam after I did some reading about it on the internet.

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam has some really nice features. One of the first things that struck me when I took it out of the box was the flexible, bendable base of the unit. You can bend it to fit nicely on the top of your monitor, or the top of your laptop. I had never seen anything like that on a webcam.

If you think that is cool, wait till you hear about the other features. The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam has a 1.3 megapixel resolution, which gives you crystal clear images and also gives you twice the light collection than other VGA cameras.

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam never goes out of focus. There are no adjustments that you need to make to it, so you don't get people telling you look like a mob witness. (I actually had someone tell me that when my daughter had messed with the focus on my old webcam!)

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam also has a built in microphone. You don't have anything extra to plug in to get it to work, just the USB plug. The sound quality on the microphone is as good as the picture quality on the camera itself. I have talked to several people using the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam and they tell me that both the picture and the sound are great.

One minor glitch was the CD that came with the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam. When I attempted to install the CD just sat there. I went up on the Microsoft website and simply downloaded the drivers, and everything was fine. Apart from that, there was no problem installing the webcam. This is something I have encountered from time to time, if it happens when you are installing a piece of hardware, just go up to the manufacturer's website, and nine times out of ten you will get the drivers you need.

Another feature that the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam has is the ability to add special effects to your transmission like snow, stars and flowers. I freaked out a friend when I told her that it was snowing in Texas in July.

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam is compatible with Windows Vista, and more importantly, the upcoming Windows 7.

I would recommend the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam to anyone looking for a quality webcam.