Cheap netbook camera quality

[simongr]

Hi all

I am considering getting a netbook for home use and wouldnt mind some thoughts on the camera quality.

Currently I have 2xiMacs and a company laptop plus various iPhones.

I want to be able to skype video with my parents in Cyprus. It works really well when I use Parallels on my iMac and use windows skype. However to get it working at both ends using OSX is too hard for both parties.

Although the iMac works we can't walk around and show stuff around the house or even the little feller plying/walking etc.

So I am thinking of getting a cheap netbook that is purely for mobile webcam and wouldnt mind some thoughts on the cam and hence pic quality I can expect.

I will be aiming for an older netbook for cheapness and need no other functionality than webcam....

Cheers
S

 

[markis10]

You wont see much difference between webcams, most notebooks use the same module, and other factors such as net bandwidth and skype bandwidth are going to have more of an impact on the quality.

My better half uses a Lenovo s10 (around $365) and the quality is good when we are using Skype, in fact I cannot tell the difference between my notebooks and her Netbook when it comes to quality depsite the price difference.

 

[tuppaware]

Hows about a second hand macbook. Not quite a netbook, but much better quality and you know, load windows 7 boot camp and your really to go.

 

[2muchplastic]

I got my son one for Christmas. It's a little Dell Inspiron 910, and it does him fine for talking to his mates over IM, or watching stuff on Youtube. Only cost me $120 as a "shop soiled" purchase.

I got my daughter a Dell 1010, which seems a little slower by comparison.

 

[simongr]

Hows about a second hand macbook. Not quite a netbook, but much better quality and you know, load windows 7 boot camp and your really to go.

Nice idea but I am looking for cheap and portable - not worried too much about seeing the other end just being able to follow the little guy around the house...

 

[medhead]

I have a eeepc 1000ha and the camera is rather good.
better that my 8 year old logitech camera on my desktop, over skype. Also found IM on the desktop to provide better image quality than skype, both to the same person/location.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I went into JB Hi Fi yesterday (Perth) and was surprised at the selection of netbooks on offer. Some very good deals and one of the sales guys l spoke to said he would throw in a USB mouse for free, $50 value.

$0 - $1000 - Computers, Laptops, Netbooks & ULVs - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices!

I was looking at the HP Mini 10" for $598 with Windows 7. Good enough for me.

 

[Mal]

There are wireless webcams available, which might be more practical from a size perspective (carrying a netbook around to use as a camera has some issues, firstly ensuring you don't flex the laptop too much, having the awkard hold of the laptop - ie from the back - to get the camera pointing the right way and the bulk of it).

The range (and pricing) available for wireless webcams in Australia is pretty poor though, and I can't recommend any in particular. They're normally used for 'security' reasons rather than webcam reasons so aren't designed with a lcd screen showing you what you're filming etc, which is a disadvantage.

With some mobile phones (I don't believe Apple), you can install software and stream video from the phone back to the computer (and presumably online).

While both the options above probably aren't the right answer - I see issues with using a netbook as a camera, due to it's bulk and awkwardness of holding - especially if chasing an active toddler.