![]() If you clamp the camera onto your monitor or laptop screen, it doesn't exactly stay firmly in place nearly as well as the better-designed LifeCam VX-5000. If you do stand it on a desk, it's likely to tip over, thanks to the cam's extreme lightness in relation to its substantial USB cord. Your color options are humdrum black or silver, and the plastic stand feels cheap-it's really just a tripod that rests on your desktop or clamps to your laptop screen. The SPC 620NC looks like webcams from circa 1999. Somehow Philips didn't get the memo about how design can drive demand. Unfortunately, the video quality is so muddy that you'll be overpaying if you buy this cam, especially when, for the same money, you can buy the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000, which offers video nearly as sharp and bright as that of our $99 Editors' Choice, the It's agreeably priced, at just $50, and it works with most instant-messaging clients. shores, just in time for lazy summer video chats with your friends. late last year, the Philips SPC 620NC has made its way to U.S. You're better off using Skype or Yahoo or MSN or AOL video-enabled instant messengers.Originally released in the U.K. Also in the box is limited version of Nero's SIPPS video-conferencing app, which requires a lengthy install and registration at something called the Nikotel network. Inside the box is a 30-day trial offer to MioNet for remote access. The Webcam can do motion-detection monitoring, but the bright, white activation light above the lens might blow your cover. ![]() You can also take matters into your own hands and use sliders to adjust the red and blue levels along with brightness, contrast, gamma, and saturation. The Fluorescence setting, for example, warms up the picture by adding red. If you turn off Auto White Balance, you're given three lighting options: Indoor, Outdoor, and Fluorescence, which I found very useful. In adjusting the image, you can opt for a fully automatic setting along with individual auto and manual settings for exposure and white balance. In contrast, the Creative Live Cam Optia AF often lost track of my face and zoomed wildly in seemingly desperate attempts to relocate it. The Philips cam executed this feature much better than any camera I've reviewed it accurately followed my mug while smoothly zooming in and out. The face-tracking feature uses the camera's 8x digital zoom to follow your bobbing, weaving head to keep it centered in the frame. The best two features of the Philip SPC 900NC are its face-tracking feature and its lighting preset. Video captured at 60fps and 30fps was smooth lower frame rates struggled with movement, resulting in frequent pixelition. While Philips claims the camera can do up to 90 frames per second, the highest setting offered is 60fps. The camera's VGA sensor can snap still photos up to a software interpolated 1,280x960 video maxes out at 640x480. In addition to the software troubles, the SPC 900NC unit Philips submitted for review had a few dead pixels near the middle of the sensor that resulted in a small, black mark in all videos and still photos. On a second Vista system, the Audio tab worked fine but whenever I clicked on the little e-mail envelope button in the main VLounge window, Windows would flash an error message and the app would abruptly close. On one Vista machine, anytime I clicked the Audio tab, the entire VLounge app froze and had to be restarted with the old Ctrl-Alt-Del routine. In the settings window, there are three tabs: General, Video, and Audio. The VLounge app is used for recording and playing back video and still shots, but the software looks dated and was buggy on two separate installs. Installation is pretty straightforward, but you'll have to head to the Philips Web site for Vista drivers they're not included on the bundled CD. On one side of the cylindrical camera is a button to snap a picture and on the other is a button to call up the VLounge app neither button worked, however, on either system on which I installed the camera. There's no autofocus you must turn the focus ring on the lens to get a sharp picture. The lens can be swiveled about 70 degrees. Thankfully, there's a screw mount that will work with a tripod, if you're serious about your Webcam positioning. The camera can be mounted somewhat securely on top of a monitor or laptop, but the base with its single hinge and arced shape does not allow for a secure perch on your desk. It's much lighter than the other two cameras, with a very thin plastic base. After reviewing the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 and the Creative Live Cam Optia AF, the Philips SPC 900NC feels like a cheap, plastic toy.
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