Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000 Win USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this webcam to replace an extremely old (circa 1999) Logitech WebCam.Some of the other reviews here indicate that this webcam is junk, but I am very happy with it.Here's a few observations with respect to my own use and some of what I've read in other reviews here.

o Video Quality - I have no problem with it and have yet to have any "freezes".My guess is that freezes are more associated with network latency.I have not tried this over a LAN (very high speed local), but over a cable modem that is 7MBit down, 384k up.You have to take that into account before you blame the webcam.My 384k up is not very fast, for a cable modem, but that's Time Warner for you.Up north (NY/CT area), my peers enjoy 3Mbit upstream!Ugh!

o Software Install Location- Another reviewer brought this up.Who cares?This isn't a 4GB first person shooter, it's a few megs of drivers that mostly need to go under the windows folder anyhow.Non-issue.

o Software Install "eXPerience" - glad to say I had no issues.Install the software, plug in the camera when it asks, and I was good to go.I'm running XP Pro on a 3GHz "single core" (old school? heh) CPU.

o Application Compatibility - It's working great with both Windows Live Messenger and Skype (latest version, 3.8.0.115).

o Built-In Mic - This was a nice surprise for me.I recently purchased a SUB Logitech ClearChat Pro headset, but the built-in mic of this webcam lets me be headset free.I ask everyone I videochat with, can you hear me okay? (Answer: Yes), and do you hear feedback or your voice? (Answer: No).So I am very pleased.Of course, you can set Windows Live Messenger and Skype to use a headset microphone or other device, you don't have to use the built-in mic.

o "The Software" - Okay, the software that comes with the webcam is very basic.But if you want something better, you can get it for free from Microsoft.XP has "Windows Movie Maker" built in, you don't NEED to use the webcam software.Or go install the Windows Media Encoder, that's another free option.I've used both no problem.

In summary, I am very pleased with the performance of the VX-7000.You can record video at 640x480 or 800x600 without problem, and that's pretty good in my opinion.After all, 800x600 is better resolution than DVD video (720x480).If you need more, I don't think you should be looking at a webcam!I think, bottom line, this product is meant for and good at its intended use - video chatting over the internet.I would buy this again.

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Product Description:
LifeCam NX-7000

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Cisco-Linksys EZXS88W EtherFast 10/100 8-Port Workgroup Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great little box for connecting a small network without breaking your bank.
The EZXS88W has a great work/size ratio. It's small enough to set on top of a computer case and provides eight ports of full duplex, 10/100 networking.
It has a very informative display to give out info for connection speed, duplex connection and collision. The setup is as simple as plugging in the power and network cables. I have yet to run into any problems with this unit and would recommend it without a second thought.

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Product Description:
The EtherFast 8-Port 10/100 Workgroup Switch is a quick and easy way to boost your network's performance while migrating to the power of Fast Ethernet. With support for half- and full-duplex speeds, the switch allows your network to run at 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 100 Mbps and an incredible 200 Mbps.
The 8-Port Workgroup Switch is designed to meet the needs of small-business and home networks. The eight-port rack-mountable switch is great for enterprise and medium-size business use.

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Netgear GS605NA Giga Switch 5Port Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought one of these units several months ago because I was constantly moving 500MB to 6GB MPG files between several of my regular computers and my DVRs and moving files this large takes quite a while at 100Mb. I hoped Gb speeds would help a lot. I did some timing and I was able to obtain about 3x shorter transfer times on my local LAN with everything connected to the Gb switch. My problem was that my house was already wired with CAT 5 cable and Gb ethernet really requires CAT 5e cable to get consistent speed. With my CAT 5 cabling, the speed was very intermittent--one time much faster and not the next.

I know this review should be about this product itself and so I'll say it's a fine product and I'll probably buy another one when I finally decide to re-wire my house. But inexpensive unmanaged switches like this are commodity products and this one is not a whole lot different than any other so I just buy whatever is cheapest.

Just make sure you have CAT 5e or CAT 6 cabling before going to Gigabit and expecting Gigabit speed.

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Product Description:

The NETGEAR GS605 5-port Gigabit Desktop Switch offers:

Five gigabit ports for fast data transfers.
Auto-sensing ports that eliminate manual switches.
Elegant fanless design for silent operation that matches your home decor.

The NETGEAR GS605 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch connects up to five network devices at up to 1000 Mbps over Ethernet cables.


At Gigabit speeds, even large video files are transferred quickly. View larger. Sturdy and Reliable Design
NETGEAR's GS600 series switches are designed for use in a home and small office, housed in a compact white case that blends into your home decor. A fanless design keeps operation both silent and more reliable, and ports are located in the rear to reduce cable clutter. Each port has status LEDs for link and activity. The switch can be placed on a flat surface or vertically on the included stand.
Simple Setup and Stellar Performance
Plug in your Ethernet cables and connect a power cord, and you're ready to go. There is no software to install or settings to configure. The switch features auto negotiation, which automatically obtains the right speed and mode, and Auto Uplink adjusts for the different types of Ethernet cables. There is no need for toggle switches or special crossover cables. The device can seamlessly integrate 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps devices on the same network and honors Layer 2 priority tags.
All ports deliver up to 2000 Mbps speed and the switch supports 9,000 byte frames when set to support jumbo frames. There is a 1 Mb packet buffer memory and support for a MAC address database of 4,000.
The NETGEAR GS605 5-port Gigabit Desktop Switch has a rated Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of 87,600 hours and is backed by a 2-year warranty.
What's in the Box
GS605 5-port Gigabit Desktop Switch, AC power adapter, vertical stand, installation guide, warranty/support information card.

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