Web cams

[Norman Kaye]

Can someone clarify a point for me.
If I purchase a webcam do I need a head set similar to the one I would need
to make PC to PC phone calls or does the webcam come with its own headset or
other equipment. Put another way, what are the major differences between
making PC to PC calls via MSN Messenger and using PC to PC webcamming.
Don't want to be spending money unnecessarily
Norman

[John Barnett MVP]

I have a Logitech Quickzoom webcam and that has a built in Microphone. Now i
can talk to a friend of mine in Argentina, using msn messenger, without any
problem. I can hear and see him and he can hear and see me. So for video
conferencing using msn/windows messenger all you need is the webcam with a
built in microphone.
I've never tried pc to pc phone calls so i'm not sure whether the micophone
would need to be somewhat different - well skype have their own headset
micophone anyway. personally i can't see what difference it makes.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Norman Kaye" > wrote in message
...
> Can someone clarify a point for me.
> If I purchase a webcam do I need a head set similar to the one I would
> need to make PC to PC phone calls or does the webcam come with its own
> headset or other equipment. Put another way, what are the major
> differences between making PC to PC calls via MSN Messenger and using PC
> to PC webcamming.
> Don't want to be spending money unnecessarily
> Norman
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Norman,

As John already said, the webcams come with a built-in microphone which you can use for PC to
PC calls fine (you don't need to use the video part).

Personally, I refuse to use the built-in microphone in a webcam because they don't typically
produce very good audio on the other side and there's even with Messenger (or competing
products) echo cancellation, there's generally a bit of an echo for your contact.

If you're serious about PC to PC calls, I highly recommend you get a USB (doesn't matter the
brand) headset. It's generally high quality, no echo, easy configuration that "just works".

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2006 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--


"Norman Kaye" > wrote in message
...
> Can someone clarify a point for me.
> If I purchase a webcam do I need a head set similar to the one I would need to make PC to
> PC phone calls or does the webcam come with its own headset or other equipment. Put another
> way, what are the major differences between making PC to PC calls via MSN Messenger and
> using PC to PC webcamming.
> Don't want to be spending money unnecessarily
> Norman
>

[John Barnett MVP]

Thanks for that information Jonathan. Your comments have made me look again
at buying a headset. I was considering it, but kept putting it off. But if,
as you say, audio quality is not that good from the microphone on the
webcam, i think i may as well invest in a USB headset.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings Norman,
>
> As John already said, the webcams come with a built-in microphone which
> you can use for PC to PC calls fine (you don't need to use the video
> part).
>
> Personally, I refuse to use the built-in microphone in a webcam because
> they don't typically produce very good audio on the other side and there's
> even with Messenger (or competing products) echo cancellation, there's
> generally a bit of an echo for your contact.
>
> If you're serious about PC to PC calls, I highly recommend you get a USB
> (doesn't matter the brand) headset. It's generally high quality, no echo,
> easy configuration that "just works".
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2006 Jonathan Kay.
> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> --
>
>
> "Norman Kaye" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Can someone clarify a point for me.
>> If I purchase a webcam do I need a head set similar to the one I would
>> need to make PC to PC phone calls or does the webcam come with its own
>> headset or other equipment. Put another way, what are the major
>> differences between making PC to PC calls via MSN Messenger and using PC
>> to PC webcamming.
>> Don't want to be spending money unnecessarily
>> Norman
>>
>
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi,

Well if your contacts find it reasonable than there's left to worry about. I once tried
switching from my headset to another device and my contacts certainly had something to say
about it...

I'd really like to test out a microphone array since it's supposed to really improve the
whole webcam/non-headset experience but I've yet to see a decent consumer version of one.
The latest creative webcam apparently has one but I don't consider it a true microphone array
just due to its size.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2006 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--

"John Barnett MVP" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for that information Jonathan. Your comments have made me look again at buying a
> headset. I was considering it, but kept putting it off. But if, as you say, audio quality
> is not that good from the microphone on the webcam, i think i may as well invest in a USB
> headset.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
> http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind, either
> expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, reliability or content of this
> mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or
> consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information or
> opinions expressed in this mail/post..
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Greetings Norman,
>>
>> As John already said, the webcams come with a built-in microphone which you can use for PC
>> to PC calls fine (you don't need to use the video part).
>>
>> Personally, I refuse to use the built-in microphone in a webcam because they don't
>> typically produce very good audio on the other side and there's even with Messenger (or
>> competing products) echo cancellation, there's generally a bit of an echo for your
>> contact.
>>
>> If you're serious about PC to PC calls, I highly recommend you get a USB (doesn't matter
>> the brand) headset. It's generally high quality, no echo, easy configuration that "just
>> works".
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger
>> Associate Expert
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2006 Jonathan Kay.
>> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
>> --
>>
>>
>> "Norman Kaye" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Can someone clarify a point for me.
>>> If I purchase a webcam do I need a head set similar to the one I would need to make PC to
>>> PC phone calls or does the webcam come with its own headset or other equipment. Put
>>> another way, what are the major differences between making PC to PC calls via MSN
>>> Messenger and using PC to PC webcamming.
>>> Don't want to be spending money unnecessarily
>>> Norman
>>>
>>
>>
>