From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

RobertB wrote:
> In article ,
>  Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">
>  wrote:
>
>>> Hmm. My new iMac has a built in camera for the iPhoto stuff. It's
>>> convenient and can be a lot of fun, although I don't do
"chat." I
>>> discovered you could also use it as an el-cheapo scanner.
>> I'm sure all the above is the case however
>>
>> (A) How much is a USB webcam?
> Cheap.
>
>> (B) How much effort is plugging in a USB Web Cam?
>
> Not much, although you have to stick it on top of the monitor.
>

I tend to stick it by the side or plug it into another USB hub often in
another room anyway. I have a main family PC which does TV (record &
play) etc & it allows the kids/familty to sit in front of a big screen
TV with a radio keyboard+trackpad thingy if they need to chat to relatives
etc.

>> (C) Most recent digicams I have seen can acts as webcams so you get a
>> webcam & digicam where one is "free".
>
> OK.
>
>
>> i..e. I just don't see the advantage in the built in webcam. Can you
>> unplug it & take it with you to video or take photos of some event?
>
> Nope. But it's not like I would have ever gone out and bought one. I
> wouldn't. But it's nice to have when it's built in.
>

Ah right. I have a few. 2 as standalone digi-vidcams, 1 as a std webcam
& another as a digital stills camera which does short films but when
connected via USB can act as a std usb web cam.

The proper digi-vidcams are by far the best coz that's what they do e.g.
they have zoom etc so you can sit some distance from the TV etc &
simply use the optical zoom.

>> wrt the scanner part....I've run into that with webcams but most
>> humorously with mice which have a fingerprint scanner on them.....if you
>> need to scan something oh...about the size of a finger then they work
>> great 
>
>
> Never saw a mouse with a fingerprint scanner in it.


Yup. We got issued with them a while back & periodically I have to use
it to get access to things.

Pretty cheap:

http://konser24.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/11425172/Fujitsu_Siemens_ID_Mouse
_Fingerprint_.html

4 Euro per item.

Adam

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