I am looking to buy a web cam...suggestions?

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

My wife is deployed to Iraq. She said she has seen fellow Marines on a website or something where they can see their families on a web cam. I don't own one and don't know what web site she is reffering to. I only hear from her once very couple of days through e-mail. I won a Sony Vaio Model VGC-RB53 (don't know if I need to upgrade my 512MB RAM, either. I heard that the new computers have twice that standard)desktop computer and have FIOS internet through a wireless connection (Linksys). Help?

[LakeGator]

I am not an expert on web cameras but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. It has been 5 or 6 years since I used one but they interface nicely with virtually all the instant messaging software. If your wife can use IM from Iraq then you could use the camera that way. I suspect that you would get decent results from a cheap camera which look to cost less than $30 at the office supply stores.

There is a good article on web cameras on WikiPedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam) that might help you learn more about the subject. It even shows an Air Force sergeant in Iraq watching his family. A brief search didn’t reveal a web site that supports the web camera to which your referred. Hopefully, your wife can find the information. I would think the USO would have something like that but a search of their site didn’t reveal anything like it.

512 MB of RAM is definitely small but barely adequate for Windows XP. One way to find out how your current memory is configured and what your upgrade options are is to go to www.Crucial.com and use the scan tool there. Their prices are almost certainly higher than you can get on specials at the various office supply stores or other on-line sources but you can show for the same sort of memory they list for your expansion. Memory is really cheap and it is almost certain that getting your system to 1 or 2 MB would make it far faster.

Best wishes to your wife, you and your family – Go Gators!

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Thank you, Lake. I will be going out today to purchase another "stick" of memory and a web cam.

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Microsoft - LifeCam Web Camera
Model: VX-3000 | SKU: 7831563


Product Features

CMOS image sensor captures video up to 30 frames per second (640 x 480 resolution); still-image resolution up to 1.3MP (1280 x 960 resolution)
Make live video calls and share images seamlessly with Windows Live Messenger; call button
Built-in unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation
Manual focus; pan and tilt options
Automatically adjusts for low-light conditions for improved video quality
Video effects; still image and video edit for added convenience
LED activity light displays the status
USB port for quick and easy connection
Universal attachment base fits on most monitors, including flat screens or sits directly on your desk
Automatic face tracking and LifeCam 1.0 software for added convenience



http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7831563&type=product&id=1142296157528

Does this look like a good buy?

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Also since I will be at Bestbuy, what manufacturer should I be looking at for RAM? Corsair, Kingston, PNY, or K-Byte? What is DDR2? PC6400? PC5300? Finally, should I be looking a 1 GB "stick" or 512 MB? I would like to get 1 GB, just so that I don't have to worry about it for awhile and can later purchase another 1 GB "stick", but as you can tell I don't know what to do, thanks.

[panamacitygator]

According to crucial.com

Your desktop will take 4 banks of 512 DDR PC3200. I would stick with PNY, Kingston if possible. The DDR, DDR2 denotes the type of RAM and the PC number denotes the speed. http://crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=VAIO%20VGC-RB53%20Series

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Thanks so much, panamacity!

[LakeGator]

Just to clarify: the link that Panama City linked shows that you have 4 slots for memory and each can support a maximum of 512 MB so you can buy sticks of 512 MB as the maximum. It appears that your system can support up to 2 GB of memory so your logical choices are to either buy 1 or 3 512 KB of DDR PC3200 sticks. You get slightly better performance to have an even number of matched sticks installed.

As always, the bytes gang is helpful and you have been great advice. Have a great time!

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

I found this at newegg.com...is it comparable to the crucial one mentioned earlier?

Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Desktop Memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141424

[panamacitygator]

Yes that should work fine!

[LakeGator]

This article from the Tampa Tribune (http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/18/me-webcam-gives-marine-view-of-newborn/) mentions the nonprofit Freedom Calls Foundation (http://www.freedomcalls.org/). Their web site lists the military camps in Iraq that have Freedom Calls Centers.

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Awesome! LakeGator thanks.

I went with the MicroSoft VX-6000, BTW, it was about 50 bucks.(still haven't bough the 512 memory stick)

Real easy set up.

It's just that I can't make my videos too long because her e-mail on ship has a limit of how big the size of incoming e-mail can be.

I have been sending her small 30 second clips and audio.

[JamminGator]

Did not know that Erin Andrews was a Marine! What a woman -- you're a lucky man!



:-)

[bigbullg8rdaddy]

Did not know that Erin Andrews was a Marine! What a woman -- you're a lucky man!



:-)

LOL