This is definately 'anything else'!

Number one daughter is at uni in bristol, and we have just discovered MSN Messenger - it has a web cam feature so I am going to get a pair of these, and send one up to her.

A few questions . Do they have microphones? If not will any microphone plugged into the sound card work? Any to avoid - recommend?
Can you talk face to face with them?

Mark

within reason you can plug any mic in, but it would probably be easier to invest in a headset mic made for use with a 'pooter (less chance of feed back)

this is just from my own experiance so others may know better.....

I use webcams from my work connection to home (ADSL broadband). I get around 5 frames per second broadband. It's very good and will get through a completely anal work/university firewall whereas previous versions screwed up.

I haven't used the audio facilities yet, but an informed source tells me there is a latency issue. It's like speaking to someone on the moon! I stick to typed text. I should get a (free) headset next week, so I'll be trying myself. I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,

Neil.

I use the headset when playing online games, with msn I've never had a problem with delay, unless your chatting with someone running a slower connection, then you can end up with two conversations at once.

If you use a normal mic on a stick you'll find the feedback from the speakers is hard going, you'll hear what you said two seconds later.

I recommend getting a deceint webcam, my first one was cheap and it showed. I use it alot to chat with people back in NZ. Save's loads on phone calls

Chris

[Edited on 27/9/03 by flyingkiwi]