While the world is getting smaller and smaller, the WebCam III helps bridge the gaps that still exist. It brings you closer to loved ones when you're away from home and opens new possibilities for fun, meaningful communication over the Internet. There's so much to do with a desktop camera. Converse face-to-face with clients, friends and family, anytime, anywhere. Much less expensive than a long distance call, live video-conferencing is a more intimate and natural way to communicate. Capture video clips and high-resolution still images and add them to your Web page, e-mail them to friends, or incorporate them into your business presentations. Customize images for electronic greeting cards. Post images on an Internet auction site. With the simple snapshot button and a few mouse clicks, take snapshots, capture video, and sort them all into an easy-to-use album. Even use it as a spy camera, showing live images on your own Web page. The Video Blaster WebCam Monitor application uses motion detection to take a snapshot when anybody - or anything - gets near your PC, and even automatically upload it to your Website.
With Creative Labs' new Video Blaster WebCam 3, you have the power to capture, create, and communicate in full-color, full-motion video directly from your PC. Everything from presentations and demonstrations to e-mail and Web pages can be jazzed up with snapshots or full-motion video clips. Creative's Video Blaster WebCam III connects to your PC via a USB connection or hub.
Features include a 640-by-480-pixel true-color CMOS sensor, focusable lens with a range of 3 inches to infinity, and live video capture up to 30 frames per second at resolutions of 352 by 288 and up to 15 frame per second at 640 by 480. This unit also supports still photography in 16.7 million colors at up to 640 by 480 resolution. Also included with the Video Blaster WebCam 3 is a software package with everything you need to get started.
1 Support under Linux is superb
I bought this webcam primarily for video conferencing - but since then I have set it up as a permanent webcam at my home. It runs faultlessly on a AMD K6-300 Linux box, serving up to a web server. I have used the Linux drivers ov511, using vgrabbj to serve the pictures up to the web server.
If this is the sort of application you want this for, this camera is great.
2 Good WebCam
This is a pretty good camera. Once I finally got the updated drivers from WinXP and got it up and going again, I was happy with the results.
3 A decent camera -- if it worked with AMD
This camera has serious issues with people using AMD processors. I tried this camera on three (3) different systems all running AMD processors and it would not do anything but return two or three frames and freeze. When I tried this camera on two systems running Intel processors, it worked perfect in both cases. If you have an Intel processor and would like a descent and inexpensive camera, this is for you; however, if you have an AMD processor I would not suggest this product.
4 Before you waste your money
This little camera has no life. XP is here & creative have made no attempt to get drivers for this beast. (was going to be available Nov, Mid Dec now TBA) I want a new camera! Sure, if you have LINUX there are drivers, maybe the LINUX users have enthusiasm, on creative as a whole, maybe they are to big to care about a product that is older than 6 months. Get this camera if you plan to stay on OS 98/95 or linux
5 Very Bad choice
I was so excited to buy this camera....what a let down...I think I got the thing to work maybe 3 times? It continuosly locks up..and the pictures are not the greatest...Look elsewhere!
6 Good buy - for the money
I must say that this was a breeze (under 5 min) to set up. I do not know why the others had problems. Pluged it in, Win98 picked up the new device, pointed it to the drivers on the CD, cranked up net meeting, and I was off!
If you want fast top notch quality video, then spend more on a better web cam, but if you just want a basic (with some cool features like zoom) camera for a very low price, then this is the camera for you. I do not regret buying it, as it was a great, cheap, way for me to get my feet wet with video conferencing, among other things.
Enjoy.
7 my Cam
I have web cam Creative cam Go, i used it on pltalk good on net meeting it is good too,, not work on webcam now. i trayd to reach them but they not reply, help plz.who can help e_mail me at : nargesxy@yahoo.com
8 Great Camera, Easy Setup
I found this camera to have a very easy setup and great picture quality. I am running it on a Windows ME machine and it works wonderfully..
9 lots of trouble
I had nothing but trouble trying to get the Webcam 3 to work. It is unstayble; one second it works the next it dosn't. The webcam controller would not load somtimes and toword the end (before I gave up on it) it wouldn't load at all. I updated drivers for it and tried all kinds of things but nothing worked. When it did work it gave good images for a cmose Chip and had a good software bundel but what good is it win the thing won't work. I read an artical on the web that tests products and thay had the same problems. My advise; invest in another cam.
10 hard to get going
I just got the webcam3. It was the hardest thing to hook up i have ever saw it took me 2 days to get it going. My problem was the drivers they are hard to find. After the cam is hooked up its wonderful. I really like the software it comes with. The picture is very clear. Its well worth the money. I did have a logtech webcam express i do not recommend that product. The picture on that is fuzzy. The webcam 3 is just hard to get going but is a wonderful product.
11 HORRIBLE!
I build computers as a hobby, so I have a lot of experience getting things to work and tweaked. First of all, the manual is absolutely the worst! It tells you to install the drivers from the disk with the wrong instructions. By trial and error I finally figured out what folder on the CD the drivers were in. I am really surprised at Creative on this deal. What a cheap camera! Honestly, it should come as a prize in a cereal box. I have used Creative products, Sound Cards, CD-Rom drives, etc. and they have all been very good quality. It's really too bad that the WebCamIII doesn't live up to Creative's standards. Finally I got the the thing to intitialize. But, it kept flickering and was erratic. It would view fine one second and the next it was fluttering and flickering. I attempted to tweak the cam settings, but the software is quite complicated and hard to adjust. I even changed my graphics card acceleration to no avail. I was able to get the picture quality a little better with the cam software settings, but it never looked quite right (washed out, no real color). The erratic display never went away. It would record .avi but then give a message that the video was corrupt. I would play it back and the flickering and flashing made it impossible to watch. Stills would work (sometime) but picture quality was inferior. Then it would freeze up regularly. I would have to close down the program and reopen to get it to work again. Horrible experience with this thing. Save your money. Fortunately, I am able to return it and get my money back. I am still shopping for a WebCam that will perform as advertised. Do not waste your money or time on this one.
12 Problems From Installation
I have been having numerous problems with the installation of my webcam 3. I also went to the Creative site to download the new drivers and I am stil lhaving problems. Sometimes the cam would not respond when I try to start up. At times it would and then the Monitor software would not work. Any help available will be greatly appreciated.
13 Not Impressed by Photo Quality
We purchased this webcam for use with another PC in our home. I've found it difficult, if not impossible, to tweak this camera to represent colors accurately.
This camera actually performs better in low to moderate light than it does in high direct light. Direct light resulted in blacks and browns showing up with a greenish hue, even after multiple attempts at white-balancing. The focus capabilities of this camera are also not as crisp and clean as I've found on other webcams.
The actual hardware design of the camera is also another factor in my unenthusiastic review - it is a two part design with a hinged viewing port and I found it difficult to place in a stable position. This camera would benefit greatly from some sort of clip or stabilizing mechanism, or perhaps a more unified design overall. Right now it appears to be two pieces hinged together.
The software for the camera is useful, but overall I can't recommend this camera for using in bright or direct light. If you have a lower light situation, however, this is a good, decently priced option to try.
14 Incredible Value, Great Product.
I have nothing but good things to say about the Video Blaster III. I simply cannot get over how much I want to end my life but feel powerless to do so. If you're looking for a great webcam at a great price, you will not be disappointed with this product.
15 Excellent and cheap quality webcam
Initially, when I bought my Creative Labs Webcam 3, the button was stuck. But after replacing it, I have had no physical problems since.
This package includes a manual, the webcam, webcam software and some image editing software. I never used the Image software so cannot say much about it. The Webcam software is excellent, it includes the regular Video and Image capture software but also has a motion detector program. This allows you to capture images any time someone or anything passes the camera, great for detecting if people are using the computer when your out.
The quality of the camera is great. 640 x 480 video capture is quite jerky, at about 12 fps average but at 320 x 480, the image is quite smooth sometimes exceeding 30 fps. The focus is a little dial on the lens, easy to adjust (Autofocus would be nice though)
This camera works well on Netmeetings and Cuseeme, I have had no problems since. By the way, installing was quite easy, all the programs installed from the installer, I had absolutely no problems.
All in all, this is a very decent package. I only once had to talk to tech support and their service was prompt and helpful.
16 An OK Webcam
I bought this camera about 5 months ago and was really excited, considering this was my first web-cam. It has worked reasonably well throughout this time. The only complaint that I have with this cam is that when I activate the camera software it deactivates my Internet connection. Other than that it has been a great camera for not only the advanced user but also the novice. The picture quality is not bad and for the price you really can't ask for much more. As for the software it was also easy to install and to use.
17 Great cam, but doesn't come w/live streaming video software
The quality of the pictures and videos are great! Easy to install. However, if you want to publish live streaming video on the web, you'll need to purchase additional software. This only comes with a software that captures still images and/or pre-recorded video for the web. I would have gave it 5 stars if it was clear on the box that streaming live video requires additional software & setup.
18 Great Cam!
It's my second webcam. First was from Logitech and it was even higher class (according to the price) but this one is much better. It's easy. works fine, equiped with a nice software. I haven't had any troubles. And, by the way, it's very chip for true VGA.
It also works under Linux, but drivers are not included in webcam package. You should download it from Linux sites yourself.
19 Works Just Fine
Setup/installation of the camera wasn't perfectly smooth. The instructions weren't 100% in line with the choices in Windows 98. Once installed, camera works easily. Picture is not great, but clear. The manual focus is not that meaningful. The web update and "watch" functionality work well.
20 Good product
It is my first web cam. It is suitable to my computer(PIII 600). And it is very easy to use. Not only the quality of captured image is good, but also quality of captured video is also good. On of my impression, it can deal with fast moving object quite well, well but not very great. Also, the software included is user-friendly and can meet my demand, such as choice of configuration. Moreover, it is worth to buy it as your new cam.. Ayway, I can enjoy video-conference with this cam right now.
21 Pretty Good
I really do like the WebCam III, it is my first WebCam and I am quite impressed. I think that the colour is abit medeocre, but other than that I think it's great! My mother lives on the other side of the ocean and I'm getting her one of these for her birthday, so that we can videoconferance.
22 Do Not Buy The Camera If You Have A Labtop!
I bought this cam because of the quality and I read that it worked well with fast moving objects. What I did not know was that my laptop dose not supplies adequate power to the camera. I found this out when I called the tech support and they told me that it might not work with the laptop because of the power supply.
23 for the money is the best buy!
I am on my second Creative Labs usb web cam, My first was the wab cam II, Now I have the web cam III. I only bought the cam III because I gave my cam II to my sister. I have had no Problems with either one. I would buy another one.
24 Before you buy, read Creative's customer reviews
Creative Labs is months behind in providing any kind of real support for the Webcam product. There are no FAQs, for instance, on the Webcam product.
I went to the company's newsgroups and was *astonished* to see the large number of complaints about the Webcam from their own customers. Worse than that, I was stunned when I realized that not a single Creative employee had responded to these complaints!
These are signs that a company is not listening to its customers, has no execution skills, and ultimately, probably will not survive. The stock price seems to indicate that the market is making its clout felt.
To all Creative customers out there -- thank you for speaking up so that I could make an informed consumer choice this Christmas. I'm off to buy Intel's or Logitech's products.
25 Great camera at a great price!
I chose the WebCam III because of the software included. You can take snap shots or create .avi movies with sound. It will allow you to capture images at a preselected interval or capture video using motion detection. In either case, you can have it upload an .jpg image to a web site or e-mail you the image or both. Video-conferencing via NetMeeting is easy and cool.
