It's time to get closer with live video. Or, for a truly amazing interactive experience, add high quality, hands-free audio to your video - your friends and loved ones will thank you for it. And, you can do so much more: create multimedia greetings, set up your own live "spy cam", or just send a high resolution snapshot at a moment's notice. If you're looking for a camera that's easy to install and fun to use, but has the video and audio quality you need to make a memorable impression, the WebCam NX Pro is a great choice.
1 Does what it is supposed to
I bought the camera because of it could be put on any screen, and its low price. I've not regretted that purchase. The camera has performed to perfection so far. It was easy to install. I've tried on to different laptops and it worked great on both. What may be a drawback for some people that move around with the screen is the fact that it's not attached to screen but just sits on top of it. But that has never been a problem for me.
2 Best webcam for the money
It was the best webcam I have ever purchased. The picture is very clear and bright even with poor lighting. The only problem would have to be the base. It is not very solid and does not mount well on the monitor. I had best results when I mounted it on top of my speaker.
3 Can't load the Software on my Sony VAIO XP laptop
The installation process hangs on 5%, it doesn't install. I tried two different installation software CDs with same result. Also, I had a very bad experience dealing with Creative customer services.
However, I bought Creative's - WebCam Live model for my sister a month ago. It works very well. So, I have had good and bad experiences with Creative products.
4 Just something I want...
I bought this webcam for 29.99 after a $20 rebate. I try to compare with the other webcam from logitech and other brand. Finally, I settled with this creative nx pro. If you're patient enough, there will be somekind of rebate once in awhile.
I've owned it for more than three months. And, I really have to say, compared to other friends who owned logitech or any other webcam which is of same price, this creative nx pro really stands out from the rest. Though it's 15fps compared to other which is 30 fps, with its price and its quality of picture, it's a product that worth to recommend to friends and family.(This product is just amazing!My friend can even see the pimple on my face clearly!)
I have a laptop. I cannot decide whether I should buy a webcam designated for notebook computer or this. But, I read some other reviews that it will work well on laptop computer. And, IT'S TRUE!I clipped it in the middle of my laptop screen, it just fits right. So, don't worry if you're buying this for your laptop.
There's only two things that I noticed which I don't quite like about it. The mic doesn't really look nice, and I really don't know where should I stick it. But this is not really a problem for me as my laptop have an internal mic. The next is about the lightning. There's certain range that the webcam will show very good lightning under very dim room. However, there are sometimes when it did not really adapt to the right lightning. During this time, maybe you just have to adjust the distance between your face and the webcam. The automatic lightning control will do the rest.
For the quality of picture this creative nx pro can provide, this is definitely worth the money! You should really include this in your shopping list if you want a good quality picture but not something too expensive.
5 Poor product, terrible software
I am quite computer literate and tried this product under both Windows 2000 and RedHat Fedora Core 3 Linux.
Win2K install is relatively easy. The webcam is so so if your light level is poor, but I would expect that from a webcam. Now the software that comes with it is horrible. I crashes randomly, sometimes after just 3 seconds!
Now is you want to try it with Linux, tough luck, as this webcam manufacturer didn't give away any driver or documentation to people willing to make a driver. Definitely not supported.
I would not buy that camera again and you should definitely try another manufacturer.
6 love it, love it, love it !!!!!!
This camera is great. I tried the Veo Velocity Connect Web Camera which I thought was already a decent web cam, but the NX pro blows it away. It is easy and fast to install. Very user friendly for people who just want to stay in touch. All the settings are easy to adjust to your needs.
The only thing that is a little tricky is attaching it to my flat screen monitor, but it's no big deal if the monitor is not moved around a lot.
The picture quality is great, even in low lighting it stays clear. I absolutely love it.
7 Let's Get real
I am computer literate and have modern, fast gear. I was unable to get reasonable performance from the NX pro. My friend's logitech works somewhat better. Any movement at all created image problems on this unit. The manual is poor, support online weak. Creative products continue to operate as if it's still 1995. Even the driver hung up on two systems! Move along, folks...nothing to see here.
8 Great Camera for the Price!
I am highly impressed with the lighting quality of this camera. It auto adjusts and does a phenomenal job even in dim light. I am also very impressed that the tripod legs sit great on my thin laptop screen. The video does tend to be a bit delayed and slow, but some of that may be due to internet connection. Overall this is a great buy for personal use.
9 Works great, easy to use
My first attempt at buying/using a webcam was a cheap D-Link brand that I couldn't figure out how to use at all & you could only EMAIL the video, not streaming.
I read the reviews on this cam that were sterling & even a past reviewer had a link of a saved simple movie he did which had great color & clairity where you can read what he wrote on paper that was a good two feet away.
It automatically adjusts to changes in light & motion. Focus is done simply by manually twisting the lens piece. Adjusting tint, color, expolsure, backlight, etc. in the software is very easy to understand. The video capture to either pics or saved movies (with sound if you want) is also very easy. It comes with a THE LONGEST wired seperate mic I'd ever seen. The mic is tiny with a tiny stand that also can be a clip to a shirt or has a sticker to stick to a desk.
It works great with Win XP SP1 & SP2 & also works great with IM programs Yahoo & AIM. Make sure you read the instructions on which to do first: plugging in the USB or installing the software. If you don't follow it, it won't install right & you'll have to do it again.
10 even better than i expected!
it's easy to install, can easily be fixed on flat monitors with its three legs, and the picture quality is even better than i expected! strongly recommended.
11 WARNING!
The following label is on the back of the instruction manual "WARNING: Handling the cord(s)on this product may expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling."
So, if you live in California wash your hands after handling this Webcam. In all other states, we're on our own.
12 The best web cam that i have ever bought
This webcam has a chrisp clear picture that i thin is better then the Logitech webcam and i like it a lot i'll always like useing creative labs products never had a proble with them very easy to use
13 Very solid camera and can't beat the price with rebate!
Just purchased this Creative Webcam NX PRO and it rocks! First webcam purchase though, so that's why it's 4 stars---can't compare it to anything else. I have a nice Canon A70 digital camera that CAN be used for short periods as a webcam but I haven't tried that function.
Kudos to Amazon.com for INCREDIBLY fast shipping! I know they have warehouses in different locations for different items but ordering an item on the 16th of December and receiving the item on the 17th of December!!! Unbelievable...and there was no shipping upgrade...Free SuperSaver Shipping...during the Holidays? That is amazing! Tried out the camera and since I have overhead lighting, it was kind of disappointing but understandable that my face was shrouded in shadows. I have to fix the lighting situation. A nice lamp behind my monitor should work.
As mentioned in other reviews, the stand is hopeless! The weight of the usb cable can pull it down unless it is cleverly managed. Creative needs to put some money into their products and give us a solid base--or a solid clip and name it a notebook webcam.
As for length of cable...it is fine. If you want to keep it somewhere else...buy a USB extension cable duh! Creative can't possibly provide everything and keep the cost reasonable.
The only thing I was disappointed with immensely was the lack of USB 2.0. I don't know when this camera was originally manufactured but the lack of affordable USB 2.0 cameras is astounding...especially at the end of the year 2004.
Haven't tried the software or microphone yet...maybe later I will update review.
I just plugged in the webcam and put in the NX PRO driver Cd when XP PRO asked me for a driver location. It installed it and then I loaded up Yahoo Messenger and it activated my webcam effortlessly. VERY EASY. I'll load the Creative software later if I have time to dabble.
Very good deal for (...) total after a (...) rebate. Excellent work Amazon.com and Creative!
14 Best Cam for the money
I've been buying Creative products for awhile now. This ranks up there as an affordable buy with alot of bang for your buck. It does everything I need it to do. Dont buy a logitech whatever you do!! Creative is the best!
15 works great
I bought one for my gf and it worked great in video conference. the image is clear, well-exposed. better than my PD1030.
16 Good cam for the price, but too topheavy.
This is my first webcam. I selected this over several Logitech models based on other posted customer reviews. I'm glad to report that thus far I am very pleased with the Creative Labs PD1130. It's simple to use, easy to install software, and the picture quality is good. The stand however, is another story. It's made of cheap plastic and without weight in the feet, the USB cable makes it topple over. It's supposed to mount on a notebook monitor, but short of taping it on, I can't make it stay in place. I ended up poking holes in a Kleenex box and sticking the stand legs in the holes to stablize the camera. That totally defeated the reason I got the camera in the first place.
17 Good...but a small hitch
The creative webcam NX pro...is defenitely worth it's price. and it gives clear pictures even when the lighting is low. i recently purchased one n i'm very happy with it's performance..although i must add that i had problems fixing it upon my laptop. the legs for this webcam r not tight enuf to allow it to properly balance over my laptop screen..which happens to b a 12.1 inches screen.
other than this one problem...i think i'm happy with it's overall performance. i would defenitely recommend this product from creative.
18 a nice simple webcam
I like this webcam for two reasons. First, the quality of the picture is very nice and clear. Second, the software that comes with the webcam is useful.
However, there are two things I don't like about this webcam. First, it doesn't stand very stably because the cam itself is kind of heavy; it will just keep falling down or aside if the top of your monitor has slope. Second, the power line is not very long, so the distance is limited if you want to move your webcam further away from your computer.
I bought this webcam few monthes ago, so it was kind of expensive then. However, after all the discount and rebate, I think the price is fair for a simple webcam.
19 Great Cam
This is great cam for the money and honesetly, I am confused about what some people were talking about. I have a brand new sony lap top and it loaded PERFECTLY on it with no problem. I didnt have to hunt down other drivers...not sure what others are talking about. As far as the base...I like it on my lap top and on desks...i could see it breaking, but it works well other than that and is nice because it isn't permanent. The picture is clear and adjusts well to light. I use my cam a lot and ive gotten compliments on this one. As far as only 1 fps...no way. IT does have some drag though and that's why i give it 4 stars. My old cam ran faster, but i think it runs better with more light. Overall, it's worth it. You can't expect it to be perfect for the price!!! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a simple, clear cam.
20 I question the negative reviews....
I'm curious as to how computer savvy some of these people are. Do you have 10+ things running in the background? Have you defragged in the past 6 months? How much disk space do you have available? Like any other product, how do you expect a webcam to work well when you haven't reformatted you PC in 5+ years and have installed/uninstalled 50+ different applications over that time?? I installed this product on my older P3 HP with 256mg and on my homebuilt screamin fast PC with very similar results. Installation was a snap as other people have stated and the base is just kind of 'odd' but certainly workable. My only complaint was that the instructions REALLY need to push the fact that to get the desired 30 frames per second quality you need to have LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT. After I inadvertantly closed my blinds to the room (cutting off all natural light) my viewing became pretty choppy and delayed and it took me 2 hours to figure out that it was the lighting. Once I opened the blinds I found the quality to be great. At night, just make sure the area behind the camera is well lit. For some of you people it seems like you want movie quality on a budget price. For $40 this thing is great.
21 People not technicallly aware.
I have just ordered this camera... And a similar Creative cam works great with mmy friend. I think all these guyz giving out bad reviews seem to have not installed or followed the intructions properly. After all a webcam can't be so bad at all.
22 Great picture - flimsy base
The picture quality of this webcam is the best I have ever seen - compared to Logitech, Veo and some other webcams. The quality is like a Camcorder and not a webcam. But don't use it for movies - it is just a webcam.
The base gives it 4 instead of 5 stars - it keeps toppling over - the base is light and awkward like a tripod - does not fit a LCD top as designed to and does not even sit well on a flat surface. As a result, this webcam has fallen from my desk a hundred times and has some rattling noise now - but still works great.
23 Dont listen to these idiots
This camera has good quality,and comes with a free mic for under $40 total.
I dont recomend this if you plan on making movies with this,but for like online chatting such as
Camfrog Video Chat,its great!
24 Bad Performance
With a webcam you normally do not need the best video quality, but rather an acceptable frame rate for applications such as video recording, video conferencing, etc.
The Creative Labs PD1130 WebCam NX Pro proved to be a major dissapointment in the performance deparment. Installation was smooth but I was shocked to see how slow my image was updated (less than 1 FPS at 320x240). This is similar to what other reviewers have stated.
I currently own an Intel PC Camera which I have had for approximately 4 years and it has considerably less latency when compared to the Creative webcam. It works fine and has no problems, but I wanted to try a new camera and experience possible advances in the cheap webcam market.
Another feature I did not like about the camera is that it is quite light and requires careful placement, however the tri-leg stand is very convenient and makes up for it.
Finally, I may not be doing justice to the Creative Camera because I only used it for 15 minutes and immediately made my mind I would return it due to the very slow frame rate. Since my main use for a webcam is video conferencing this was truly unnacceptable.
25 BAD BAD video quality
I purchased this webcam last month based on the "good" reviews here. The video quality is so bad and fuzzy that I couldn't even tell if the person in the webcam was really me!!
I was also startled to find so many "good" and "helpful" reviews on this webcam here. I start to wonder where all those "good" reviews are coming from.... If those reviews were authentic, I wonder which antiques they were comparing with.
I would have given it a 1 star if it wasn't for the smooth installation of the product.
I already returned the product and got the refund - $4.99 on me because the product was not defective. And I just got the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 and it works perfect with great video/picture quality that you're able to tell who's who in the cam! Guys, to save your money and time, do not buy this Creative Labs PD1130 WebCam NX Pro. I highly recommend Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000.
26 Low-price, low-quality
I bought this to use with my HP ZD 7000 laptop. Things went wrong right from the beginning. The driver/application/installation process hung repeatedly. I finally had to go directly to Creative's web site to get the most current drivers. Although I eventually got the camera to work, picture quality was poor, and the frame rate was a joke. The slightest movement produced smearing and broken images. The frame rate was closer to one frame per second than the advertised 15 frames per second. Undaunted, I tried it on another computer (an 1800MHz AMD Athlon). The results were the same. I returned at the next day.
When Amazon credits my account, I'm going to buy a Logitech 4000. This camera appears to meet my need for quality. I thought I was getting a bargain by buying the PD 1130 for $38. Don't be fooled. You will end up returning this camera. Spend a little more and get something that works.
27 Does the Job
As a first time webcam user I'll have to admit that this camera makes things easy, and I've had no trouble with it so far. Installation was a breeze and the resolution is great. Friends with other types of webcams were immediately impressed by the quality of the pictures and by its price.
28 Excellent Camera
I baught this camera about 9 months ago from Amazon. This is one of the product that has really pleased me.
Any camera over $40 will work in good day light, the real test is how it performs under dim light. I am quite pleased with the results in low day light, and also during night light. The separate microphone is also excellent, and looks great too.
The only gripe, that people have with it, is its somewhat unstable stand. But, I think you can live with it. The only reason, I will not give it 5 stars is that you can always spend more and get pro grade web enabled cameras with zoom, and auto focussing and other advance features.
I would definitely recommend it for its great value for money, and excellent picture quality. You will be pleased with its excellent performance for daily use with aol/yahoo messanger type applications.
29 NX Pro non-working
Some two months ago I purchased this Webcam for use under Win98 SE on a PC with MSI Mb. It has never displayed video and a Windows error is reported: after a string of (polite) e-mails from Creative Support basically *try this* the problem still exists.
Using a program such as PC Surgeon I've even sent a Software Debug Report which shows a program violation, but Creative do not seem to understand technical problems. (Like so many other software companies Support seems to be to sales and not technical).
30 Okay buy
I bought the NX Pro because I needed a cheap webcam with good prior reviews - and with the current rebates offered, this exactly matched my needs.
As said earlier, the stand is not the best one out there - it somehow manages to hold itself onto my notebook screen. And when on a flat surface, the USB wire tugs it such that it is always offbalance on its own - needs something more stable to support it.
The performance was also dismal - the 1 to 1.5 second lag is quite apparent (even while viewing oneself!!), and is disappointing.
The installation disc and manual provided is SOOO ambiguous - it just tells you to install the drivers that you require (sic).
And there is no autorun.exe on the disc - you have to search around in the folders (whose names aren't very descriptive), and find the right one, and then run the installers yourself! C'mon CREATIVE, just add in an autorun that proides the user these options!!
But for the price, it might be the best thing available there.
If you are willing to pay more, go look at the better toys.
31 ohio
Our children spend alot of time on msn messenger, the quality of the picture is 100% better than most of their friends cameras. A small delay in movement periodically, but for the price you cant beat it. We had a little trouble downloading software, we received excellent help through Creative Labs help desk, however it was a long distant call.
32 Just some 411 "Cause cancer or Birthdefects"
Just incase you watch the labels like I do...there is no statment on amanzon about it like there is on some other products...if your familiar with the "State of california - this wire contains lead...cause cancer...birth defects" Other than that I didnt see the quality of the cam..that turned me off.
33 Good Lil Camera
This is a great little camera if you don't need a super high resolution video camera and just want to web chat or shoot a few videos once in awhile. It works great and has pretty good clarity. The one thing that I wish it were better on though is the color. Often it looks a little bland but I think most webcams are like this. The price is really good too. I got mine for under forty so it's well worth the money. Overall its solid, easy to set up, works with all messaging programs, can adapt to fit on a laptop screen, and its cheap. I recomend it.
34 It's Okay... But
It is an okay webcam for the price. I am just use to a webcam and microphone all in one like Logitech Webcams. Creative Labs have some good stuff and I have never had any issues with their sound card either... I believe they need more work with the cam if they are planning on being their with Logitech...
35 Fantastic !!!!
good one. Watch for the somtimes very low price on Amazon. Price swings from 28 to 41.
36 good reception , good clarity - good Price $ 40
Nice little Cam n hooks great with any USB port.
I have noticed that the resolution also varies if you use yahoo or hotmail.Simple to use and can take pictures like a dig cam with the cord attached o your PC.The price keeps changing between 27 to 40.
A good cam.
I had some problems initially when i installed it on my pc , but the technical supports FAQ was helpful.
Good cam for a good price !
Go buy it and be naughty :)....
37 Two Thumbs UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PERFECT
I just got the camera and I am really amazed by how good this is. Very easy installation. And unlike other people said on their reviews the tripod is a good fit for my monitor stands on top of it with no movement. It works perfectly under dim light. Focus ring is just too good and easy to work with, even though you won't need to use it cause most of the times the image shown is already very good. When I bought this camera I had myself reading all reviews from pretty much every camera in this price range. And I can confirm right now: "This is the best camera around!" Amazing! Comes with tons of software, plus a Windows XP package with Plus! Photo Story LE, Plus! Dancer LE, and amazing screen saver. Don't read anymore reviews just buy it.
38 Worth the price
I found this little toy on sale for (...) and after reading through some of the reviews on here decided to try it out as I could always return it later. I purchased a different cam recently one of the cheapo (...) ones just to see if I liked the webcam experience. Deciding that it wasn't all bad I started looking for a new cam to try out. I agree with some of the reviews about the legs being too light for the cam but did not have any problems getting it to stand up on my 19" monitor. The back leg also folds in so it can be under the cam and have it rest fine with the two legs in front of a monitor but I didn't find any way to lock the back leg to clip it to anything. Currently I just have all 3 legs out and the cable running back down my monitor and it seems to run fine. This cam has a wonderful range for tilt and turn as well as a manual focus that can be tuned to look pretty good.
I had no problems installing the cam or software on my win2k pro system. One thing to remember with Win9x or 2k is that you HAVE to install the drivers before plugging in the cam (as with any USB device) or you run a chance of currupting your USB drivers and having to rebuild them (more so on win9x than 2k).
As for the people complaining about the instructions. I didn't look through the book but it looked like it could cover a lot. It's a basic setup of 1)Install drivers and programs from cd. 2)Reboot 3)Plug in cam and go.
The programs that come with it aren't bad, they give options for video capture of course and fine tuning the cam and also a way to automatically load images to a website via FTP connection based on how often you want to refresh it.
You can also have it setup to turn on when it detects motion or at certain times of the day, as with most cam's.
My only issue is the mic. I'm getting feedback if I have it turned up just a little bit and there is also some interference. I'm not sure if this issue is with my basic sound card or a matter of it being just an omnidirectional mic (probably the latter). But I didn't buy it for the mic, that was just an added bonus.
All in all I rated this a 4 as the cam itself is good but the mic could use some work.
39 A good camera, but has flaws
This is a great camera for the money, but it has it's good and bad features. On the plus side, it works GREAT indoors. Even under very dim light it shoots clear pictures. If you want a camera for video email or Instant Messaging, this is a GREAT camera.
On the other hand, don't even attempt to point this camera outside. If it is at all bright out then all you will see is bright white light. Also, the grip does not hold very well to flat monitors or laptops. To be quite honest, I just use a jar and sit the camera on top of it and it works just fine.
Overall, this is a very nice little camera for the money. If you are looking for outside shooting, keep looking. For everything else....this is a great choice!
40 Great cam!!
I was a bit weary when reading the more negative reviews on this cam, but when I opened it, set it up (which was very easy) mounted it on the top of my flat screen computer monitor, and turned it on..I was very pleased! The quality of the pictures it took, and the cam image itself was spectacular! it looks great in a dark room with only a small lamp on. as well as a very bright room. it seems to adjust to the light available to produce a clear image. Bonus for me, it makes my complection seem remarkably smooth..I couldn't even see the circles under my eyes that I acquired after the birth of my daughter. Overall this cam gets 5 stars. Oh, and about the stability of the base..once you get the hang of putting it on your monitor, it's very easy to put it anywhere else. I haven't had it fall over once. it seems to snap onto my monitor very well.
41 worked 1st & Only 1 time
This webcam worked the first and ONLY time, afterwards as far as my new Dell PC (XP) thinks it doesn't exist... although I re-installed s/w, then removed & re-installed 3 times even with new driver I downloaded from Creative web site....no luck...so it's back to the return desk. It appears I'll have to try another mfg webcam.
42 not very good
It works well at the very beginning...but later i found
1. it's too hard for it to stand still. it drives you mad b/c of this.
2. the quality of pictures deteriorates over time. it cannot even focus now! what's happening?
><..am i the only case?
43 Great webcam!
This is a wonderful little webcam. It sits perfectly on top of my Creative Ti2900 speakers. Resolution and refresh rate are great for this camera's price class, and the image is always bright and accurately colored.
I use this camera with MSN Messenger to converse with our in-laws overseas and not for hosting a webcam or anything like that, so I can't really comment on the included software package. I can attest that this camera works flawlessly with Messenger (which is more than I can say for my router).
The only downside, if you can call it that, is the microphone. In the package I received, the microphone is white, not black as shown. Also, the mic is highly directional and highly sensitive. Meaning that you need to direct it squarely toward your sound source, but not too closely, or you'll end up with a distorted sound. I find placement at about 30 inches works for conversational volume (no joke).
44 Sweet
Works like a charm. Great clarity even in low lighting. Easy set-up. Great software and microphone supplied. What more you can you ask for $35.00.
Highly Recommended.
45 Nervous breakdown in a box.
I bought this WebCam based on the glowing recommendations here at Amazon. I realize that every configuration is not the same and there can be glitches and problems. But after hours of installing, reinstalling going online and tinkering, this product simply does not work. According to device manager it is working properly, the green power light is on, but nobody is home. No picture. Nothing. I am using Windows XP Home on a newer high end Toshiba. Also note that the Quick Start brochure is also not accurate, which I had to learn by going to Creative's website. Personally, I actually like the flimsy stand that everyone else seems to hate. It's possible that I just was shipped a bad unit. But as for now it is DOA, so my experience has been very frustrating. A waste of time and money.
46 Very good
The imagen's very clear and fast, the resolution is great, the software's very useful and easy to install. The only weakness is the base because it's dificult to find a good estability, but nothing that you can't resolve it.
La imagen es muy clara y rapida, muy buena resolucion, el programa es muy util y facil d instalar. La unica debilidad es la base porque cuesta encontrar una buena estabilidad, pero nada que no se pueda resolver.
47 Easy to set-up and use
This is my first webcam. It was VERY easy to use. However, as usual, Creative included minimal documentation. As long as the installation CD "auto-starts," you can just follow the prompts. I use it with Yahoo Chat and it works very well. I cannot comment on the microphone feature as I already have a one in my headset that I use. For the price, I think the NX Pro is an excellent value.
48 Great webcam
This is a great webcam. Considering it's style and performance, it is over my expectation. Works great with Yahoo messenger, ICQ video and Netmeeting. Auto lighting is excellent.
49 Image quality superior to pricy Logitech Quickcams
This is my fourth webcam, purchased because of a promotion in a local store. I owned all generations of the Logitech Quickcam dynasty, from the parallel port, the Messenger, to the Pro, and tried many others, but this small webcam has the best color quality of all.
The Quickcam Messenger, that costs about the same as this NX webcam , is a waste of money: colors are drab and images are blurry. It is basically identical to the ancient parallel port camera with its tiny useless resolution. The Quickcam Pro, which costs almost double, offers much better image quality, and I thought it to be the gold standard. It is a smart design incorporating the microphone into the webcam and decent image size. The downside is that using a USB device as microphone is a tad tricky.
To my surprise, the clunky-looking Webcam NX Pro is superior to all Logitech webcams in the most important category - image quality and color. Using it with MSN Messenger and NetMeeting makes the videoconferencing livlier and less jumpy. Although the supplied microphone is separate, it allows you to place it closer to you and improve the sound quality.
There is a new guy atop the webcam heap, and it is the WebCam NX Pro.
50 Great Cam
My cam works well in dim light adn I had *no* problems with the stand whatsoever, installing was simple it couldnt have been easier the only problem I have is my cam flickers from time to time but other than that I thinkits great! and great buy for the price
51 great webcam
I loved this little web cam... inexpensive, in my opinion, and gives some sharp still pics unliked the grainy pics of the other web cams. Only thing I didn't like was placement. I would have liked to have been able to remove it from that base and put it on a tripod... on top of my monitor it is too high, and next to it is too low. But quality pics and videos. Easy to use too
52 Worth buying (again)
This is my first webcam, and so long as it doesn't break, will likely be my last!
The picture quality is good, with natural colors/skin tones. At night, it does need plenty of light; my one CFL lamp doesn't do a great job. No need to adjust the default settings, though focus occasionally needs some playing around with (have had good focus within my room, ~15 ft).
With the back leg bent, it doesn't sit well on flat surfaces; but stays. Use the back leg as a clamp on some sort of a wall (my PDA's cradle, or notebook LCD), and it sits gingerly, but hasn't fallen off.
I got it with a rebate and another Amazon gift check, so for the half-price that I paid, it was Absolute VFM :)
53 great product
In a few words:
Very good sound and picture quality, especially for the price.
Easy to set up and use and much preferred over logitec's similarly priced products.
54 Great product, good value
I bought this camera for my mom for Christmas based on other reviews and loved it! It cost about the same as the web cam I own and the picture is sharper and brighter than mine. Installation was easy on XP and my Mom and I chat on MSN almost daily. My brother now owns one and I'm about to buy one for myself. The stand is a bit flimsy (that's why 4 stars, not 5), but I find that if you flip the back leg all the way back and stand it up like a tripod on flat surfaces, it's fairly stable. I think this web cam is a GREAT value and I can't understand how the people who gave negative reviews had such problems.
55 very good image quality
Very good webcam. Excellent image quality during day time. Dark during nightime. 3 Way base did not work on my flat screen but you can work around it. Higly recommended
56 Web cam not worth for money
This webcam does not work well with windows xp,(Home and Professional) and windows 2000. Software given is old and outdated.whole package is not worth for money.
Logitech is much better in quality. Stand is really a pain.
Moreover technical assistance and other customer service are really bad. Will Never buy again from creative. Company sucks.
57 better than I expected
I was a little concerned about some of the negative reviews, before I pulled trigger. Well, the result is better than I expected. The image quality is way better than the slightly more expensive logitech quickcam messenger my friend had. I'm impressed with its performance in low light condition, where my real camera (digital or not) would have problems. The frames per second (fps) is not quite at 30, but it's about 12-15fps from lowest resolution to 640x480. The limitation is probably due to the USB 1.x interface than anything else. The intallation is a no brainer. It latches perfectly on my laptop screen. I suspect it would work well on flat panels. It does seem to have problem _standing_ on a surface though, as the attached USB cable is heavier than the camera itself. Overall, it's a $40 well spent.
58 Not as good as Logitech Webcams
I bought this for my girlfriend today and we compared it to my 2-year old Logitech ClickSmart 310. The Creative was much laggier than the Logitech and that was extremely disappointing since the Amazon reviews were so good. Like everybody said, the stand needs to be heavier, it's just not heavy enough to stand on its own.
The webcam does work, but for the same money, you could buy a better Logitech webcam.
59 Not as good as other similar creative products
Some months ago I bought another Creative webcam model(Creative Webcam Pro, see that this model doesn't has the "NX")
Later I gave that webcam to my parents and I tried to buy another one, but it was disccounted, so I bought this model, because it had a very similar price (I paid 39.99 for the first webcam and 41.99 for the NX). I expected that the quality that this new camera would be the same than the other one, but I got completely disappointed: not only the image quality is worser (the image seems highly pixelated), but also the sensitivity of the ccd is poorer (when I'm indoors with artificial light I cannot move too fast in front of the camera, because my image gets blurred). The "Revolutionary 3-way base" is not that good: it doesn't hold very well in my notebook screen and it doesn't hold at all in some other flat panel displays I tried with, and since it is so light, it doesn't hold very well in a flat surface.
As a conclusion, if Creative wanted to be consistent with quality-price ratio, they sould have sold this camera at a lower price, maybe 10-20 dollars cheaper.
60 Reasonable price, poor performance
After playing with this camera for 2 days, I decided to return it.
1. Installation is straight forward w/ XP
2. Still picture is clear, even under low light.
3. Stand is tricky. But not the major issue.
4. Significant latency unconnected (>1 second) and extreme latence/dropouts via MSN messenger over a DSL connection (both sides) Tried every option, with no improvement.
61 Very User friendly product. I am satisfied.
This webcam is great. Easy to install on XP. Great clarity. The best thing is that three family members have bought one each for themselves just by looking at the picture quality and the ease of use that I enjoy. The stand is tricky, but I find that its more because of the wire behind it. If the wire is not tugging from behind this cam stays put. I love the fact that that I have never had to make any picture adjustments. It does all the work by itself. All I have to do is press the 'webcam' button on MSN.
62 No! No! Never, never, NEVER!!!!!
PLEASE do not buy this monster. I spent five hours trying to install this and it still does not work. Technical support is nonexistent. At first I wanted to destroy it; then I wanted to cry (seriously). Does the military own this company?!? I expect such poor quality only from the government. I hope that this company goes bankrupt SOON. I read the reviews here on amazon and bought it here because of them; don't believe a word. I am a computer geek but I could not handle this.
63 sharp pictures
I got the webcam one month ago and have been using it very often to chat with my parents via MSN messenger. The image is clear and vivid. I hightly recommend it to any one.
Easy installation and it stays stable on my LCD screen.
The only recommendation is that it should add a switch to turn off/on. I can't turn it off unless I unplug it from the USB jet. But I guess that's the problem with most webcams...
64 Great little cam for the price!
I am sooo impressed with this webcam! I first bought the Veo Advanced, and it was horrible. A friend of mine has a Logitech 4000, which seemed to be the way to go, but it was a little more than I wanted to spend, so I decided to give this one a try.
Installation was super easy on XP. I couldnt believe the difference when I turned this camera on. The picture was so clear and bright, I havent had to change a single setting from the defaults. It automatically adjusts for differences in lighting, and even in near total darkness it still provides a clear picture. Personally, I think the picture is even better than my friends Logitech 4000!
I'm very satisfied with this purchase. My only complaint is the stand, so what I did was I wound up taping it down to give it some stability. Small inconvenience for the great performance tho.
Highly recommended!
65 Poor performance...
Some preliminary comments based on my first few days with the "Creative Labs PD1130 WebCam NX Pro"...
* Installation - Straightforward and easy on Win2K Pro. Nicely integrated live shot of the cameras view in the install process, which builds early confidence that the device is working.
* Form factor - As others have noted, the three legged base is dicey on flat services (desk, top of CRT). It does, however, work quite well hinged to a laptop (or for you fortunate souls, your flat screen).
* Functionality - Bundled software provides all the basic necessities (still picture, video, scheduled monitoring + configuration)
* Performance - This is where the device is letting me down (hence the three stars for an otherwise positive experience). I'm seeing significant latency locally (~1.5 seconds) and extreme latence/dropouts via Yahoo & MSN messenger (below 1 FPS at 320x240) over a DSL connection (both sides) on a P3 box w/ 512MB RAM and Win2K SP3. I've tried, I believe, every option, with no improvement.
This would be (or will be) a five star product if I can work the performance issue out. As it is, it's on a path to being returned.
66 Where are they coming from?
When I see bad reviews on a product that I have used and like, I sometimes wonder where they are coming from. This is a great camera, with easy to use software. The resolution is outstanding, the colors are great, installation was easy, and the software is easy and fun. Works great on Yahoo including 640X480. At this price, it is a steal
67 Happy Customer!
I bought two of these for Christmas this year for my kids and their computers. I've personally been using the Logitech QuickCam at home for 3 years now on "my" computer and thought it was pretty good until I put it side-by-side with the Creative Labs product.
The quality of the image is hugely superior. I mean, saying it's just better or even exceptional is an understatement - it's really THAT good. Installation was a no-brainer, without a single hiccup. The three-pronged stand - yeah, that's a little funky but it's nothing to lose any sleep over. Your objective with this product should be a quality image and fundamental ease of use, which this camera effortlessly provides - however, yes, the stand could be a wee bit less "rickety" but it's really not that bad!
It does "ghost" a bit - but what I found out was that it was my kids on the other end of the camera moving around at warp speed - not necessarily the camera itself. Nice clear images, vibrant color. It's a nice toy to have on your PC.
It's well priced for what you get. I'm ordering my third one today - so long Logitech!
Happy Cammin'!
68 One of the best out there for under $50
Looking for something around $50? I used to own the Logitech Pro 3000 ($100 at the time) and that was superb, but it broke and I don't want to shell out another $100 again for the Pro 4000. At first I bought the Logitech Webcam Messenger ($50) thinking Logitech is better than other brands, but when I tested it the image quality is really bad. Even with intense lighting, the image was greenish and very grainy, not to mention ghosting when I moved around. I returned it and bought the Creative Webcam NX Pro and found out that it is far superior to the Logitech Messenger. NX Pro has a much better image quality. There is still a bit of ghosting, but the color is very good. For $50 I have no complaint about the quality of this webcam. It does pick up ambient noises, but it's very tolerable. The only complaint is the base. It takes some effort putting the webcam on top of the LCD, but it does sit on top of my LCD. If you want to set it on top of a desk there's no trouble there. The wire does tug on the webcam a bit, but once it's set up, it shouldn't present a problem. A very nice webcam for under $50.
69 Not as good as my old Intel PC cam
I purchased this camera for it's reported higher resolution and good reviews from others. The installation was not too difficult, but does require a driver installation for Window XP, the other programs that came with the the camera were only fair. I can only get up to 320x240 resolution with Yahoo messenger, not the 640 resolution I was hoping for. The picture quality on this was not as clear as my old Intel PC Pro webcam, with a lot of distortion, and looked grainy. I have decided to return the camera after only a few hours of playing with it, and keep my old Intel PC webcam.
70 I am happy with it!
I would give this camera 4.5, the only complain is about the stand, just as other reviewers have mentioned. Now I have to put a small heavy box between the tripods to stablize it, even standing on desks. Maybe it's better for LCD screens.
Easy setup with XP: insert the driver CD and install the software, and you are ready to go.
I haven't used other webcams, but I am quite happy with the picture/video quality. Working perfectly indoor, even with weak lights. The colors are really vivid.
A detached mic is included. I prefer this than built-in mics.
Tried MSN messger and Yahoo messenger. Working perfectly, except most internet video softwares only support up to 320x240. So if you are using it for internet communication purposes, maybe a cheaper 320x240 will suffice. If I am wrong on this, please let me know a better software!
71 Beware of Creative Technology's products
I purchased this webcam based on good reviews on Amazon.com, and had the Window me and a PC with all the requirements for installation. I read the instructions and realized they were very sketchy - only the bare essentials - no details - and no phone number for product support (which, incidentally, is even hard to obtain from the website! And is not toll-free) I put the CD in and followed all directions.....they offer people a number of "programs" (web monitor, etc) but don't tell you what each does....so how do you know what to install???? Actually, a person doesn't need any of them if they have the correct drivers, etc, but they don't tell you that. I was missing a file for the drivers, and it said to put it in, but gave me no space or name of file to add. So I skipped this (which they later said was OK to do) and installed two other programs. I followed the Wizard and all directions, and when I turned by computer back on, my operating system was gone. It corrupted my whole computer, which would have cost me a $200 repair bill, and, instead of fixing it, I ended up buying a new computer. Creative Technologies would not accept ANY responsibility for their poor directions, and led me on initially to think they would do something, but ended up not even calling me back, or coming to the phone - certainly not willing to compensate me in any way for the expense incurred. (I had asked them to pay my repair bill, or buy me a new and better webcam) People - they DON"T CARE.....they will just keep selling to more and more people around the world, and losing the people whose equipment gets ruined because of their negligence......even a school kid could write better directions than what was in the box! So, this is a good product (from other reviews) IF you are a computer person AND it does not crash your system. Otherwise, you are on your own!!!!! I told Amazon.com I thought they should not offer their products until they were willing to put clear, thorough directions AND a support phone number in their instructions. (Creative Technologies excuse: "Other companies are getting away from putting in phone numbers") What a world of poor customer service we live in!!!!! The age of rip-offs..................So, given the poor directions, and the non-existent, irresponsible customer support, I would not recommend this product.
72 Better then most
I agree with most people about the stand. It pretty much sucks. The camera's quality is pretty good tho, and when you match it with the price, it kicks Logitech to the curb. Highly recommended!
73 good under very dim light and good natural color
For the $40 I paid after the rebate, this NX Pro offers good picture quality. Even under very dim indoor light, the screen always show a brighter picture than the actual scene. Most of the time, the color/contrast/brightness/etc don't need adjustment to render good natural color. Just set to default.
In comparing with my other 3 unknown brand webcams, this NX Pro is quite an interesting contrast. When shooting out of my office window, my cheaper ($20) webcam made by Zoom Telephonics could pick out details of buildings at the end of the street, about 600 ft away, with accurate colors. But NX Pro just showed a misty outline of the buildings, just cloudy, no colors. Maybe it doesn't see through glass that well.
The NX Pro is good primarily for video conferences where people are from 4 ft to 10 ft away from the lense, and are almost always shot indoors. This NX Pro shines in daytime and night artificial light conditions of all levels of dimness.
The unknown brands always show reddish color at night scenes lit by artificial lights. Regardless of any color adjustment, they alway appear funny. Also, with indoor lighting, these cheaper brands show lots of blur with the slightest movement.
But, surprisingly, in daytime, the unknown brands are so sharp that they show your pimples and wrinkles. NX Pro is very flattering when it shows peoples' faces - always smooth, even colored, no blemishes, - like in a movie studio.
Conclusion: since webcams are mostly for indoors, with artificial lighting, and for shooting at close range not over 15 ft, the NX Pro is the best for the price in terms of sharpness, skin color tones, and frames per second.
74 Best camera on the market
For a camera at this price it provides you with a very clear image, it works great with MSN Messenger if you want to use it to stay in touch. By far the best image I have seen from a webcam, and the colour is great aswell. Has many options in the programs that come with the product. The stand takes a few minutes to figure out, but there are no problems with it afterwards. I would recommend this camera to anyone considering buying a new webcam. This is much better than logitech cameras.
75 The Best So Far
This is a very good web cam, easy to set up & use, and all my contacts agree the video/audio received is as good as any & better than most.
It doesn't get 5 stars only because its stand is rather naff; that said, I got it to fit fine on my Sony laptop, even though it's not exactly 'positively located.'
76 Unbelievable
I bought the logitech quickcam messenger for my desktop about a year ago and my main squeeze bought this creative webcam nx pro for her notebook yesterday. the images coming from the creative nx pro are sharp, focused clear etc etc. The images from my logitech quickcam messenger ARE CRAP in comparision. The worst is i recommended to her to get a logitech because i assumed they were the best. now i have to fork over 41 dollars for this creative cause my quickcam messenger is fuzzy and crappy even at the highest settings. Its a total shame people still unknowingly buy the logitech cause then webcams and video conferencing as a whole gets held back and prices stay high.
77 Great product!
I was so new to the world of web cams but this little job is a gem! The stand is a little tricky but that is nothing in comparison to the picture quality this thing has. I plan on getting one for my brother and one for my mother for Christmas.
78 Excellent webcam - Good value for your money!
. Video clarity is very good.
. Works well with Yahoo/MSN messengers & Netmeeting.
. Installation is as simple as plugging in, use the given CD software and 5 clicks.
. The stand that it comes with fits well in my Laptop.
. With 10$ mail-in rebate the price comes to < 32$ w Free shipping, this is a steal!
I wonder why it took so long for me to buy this cam! I have been using the free Largan Chameleon Mega camera (this webcam with has bad video quality) that came with my Dell laptop for the past 1 year :-(
Highly recommended!
79 Great Deal
I don't write many reviews but this webcam deserves one. Great price, excellent picture, good color and contrast. It beats many more expensive products and is certainly far superior to some of the Logitech products out there. I'm running a 2.4 gig machine with 512kb memory, Windows XP Pro, which of course did not recognize the driver compatibility but installed without a hitch anyway. This webcam works great with the software bundle it comes with, and it is an above average bundle at that. Works out of the box with Yahoo Messenger and Windows Messenger, no problem at all. Total installation time about 10 minutes. My only complaint would be that the stand for a flat panel monitor include some type of device that allowed for a firm attachment. I suppose a little velcro or tape would solve that problem. Other than that, you cannot go wrong with this purchase. Creative has another winner with this one.
80 did not go wrong buying this
i have gone through the cheap free after rebate officemax webcam's, which usually retail (overpriced at that) for $20 to $25. had a compusa brand $18.99 monstrosity, and a Logitech Clicksmart 310.
The ClickSmart doesn't like lights behind me, and has a funny red tinge. That camera is $50+
I got this one for $31 with a rebate offer from Amazon - and it is the best camera I have ever owned. Mic is a separate unit, also comes in box - which i think is a great plus. I hate webcams with built in mics.
i'm broadcasting on http://www.fobiopatel.com/webcam with this bad boy during business hours EST
81 better than logitech
I agree with other reviewers. The Creative Webcam NX Pro is better than the logitech webcams. The price is right, and the quality/color are top-notch.
The stand is a pain however and will require some fiddling to get the webcam to stand.
82 Good value for money
I bought this cam when there were no reviews available for this item, so it was kind of a risk that i took. But I was looking for something decent under 50 bucks. Logitech cams < $50 didnt have good reviews, so I went for this one and it turned out to be an excellent choice. The quality is very good, and video recording is also nice. The only minus point about this cam is its stand -- a little unstable. Contrary to what the company says about this, it doesnt quite fit on to my notebook's LCD screen. Also its very light due to which it cant stand the USB cable's weight, so you have to play around a little bit to set it stable. Anyway, except for its stand, its been performing very well till now.
83 Excellent Webcam...a steal at $40 w/ free shipping!!!!!
I spent about a month reading reviews and comparing webcams. For a long time I was convinced that logitech was the best way to go, but I was wrong. This shows much clearer that any logitech on the market, all of which sell for much more that $40. you will not be disappointed. I had the cam for about 2 months now, and have no complaints. I everybody says is the clearest the have seen.
