From: RobertB 

In article ,
 Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near the
bridge">
 wrote:

> 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.

Talk about the well-connected home. You're more connected than Bill Gates.


>
> >> (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.

Yeah, that's nice. However, Apple was nice enough to bundle some software
with the camera so you can add effects -- mostly to make yourself look
bizarre.

>
> >> 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.

The fridge? 

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