We bought a webcam today!
And it’s exactly the one in the pic, so I think we should be able to use it on both the PC and the laptop (if we ever see the ol’ laptop again… 😕 ). It also came with an earpiece microphone thingy – the type that dangles down from one ear and which apparently works just fine as I checked it out with Mudhooks this afternoon.
Anyhow, have never had a webcam before. Mostly because I quite enjoy being able to sit in front of the computer communicating with people without having to be properly dressed or worry about what my hair! looks like.
But the other day we were chatting with zoomer and he had his webcam going to show us his new condo and it was rather cool. We were just chatting on IM and it was nice to see him laugh when he received my messages (he has the most beautiful smile). And so Nog and I thought we’d get one too.
When I tested it out with Mudhooks on Skype today we had both visual and audio going and it was quite neat (she has a lovely smile too!). But I don’t think I’ll ever be going visual first thing in the morning, if you know what I mean . . .
I realise we are probably way behind the times as everyone seems to have webcams these days. I’m not sure why I never got one before – I think I always thought they were more expensive than they actually are. This one only cost 20€ (well, with the headset it was an extra 10€). A reasonable price for a new computer toy.
So does everyone else out there have a webcam? Do you use it a lot? Apparently I can send photos and videos to people with this one and I’m thinking it might be nice to send a video message to friends and family members, like at Christmas or on their birthdays, stuff like that. 
casa azahar 
Nope.
Thought of it occasionally, but I´ve not really seen any use for it so far.
…and I quite like not have to litterarily show up as soon as I talk to someone.
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I don’t have a webcam – which I’m sure doesn’t come as a surprise, seeing I don’t have most gadgets. Besides, I quite like Not Being Seen.
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I don’t have one, either. I also like not being seen.
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Looks like we all like to hide behind the veil!
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Yes – I have a webcam – I use it occasionally when I am talking to my sister in Toronto. It can be somewhat disorientating to see yourself during a Skype conversation.
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I must admit it was nice to see az and nog when we Skyped yesterday. And I also learned how to use the speakers when using the headset.
A day when you learn something new is never wasted 🙂
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Yeah, it was quite fun, dragonqueen. 🙂
As I say, don’t think I’ll use it often but for 20€ it’s a cheap enough new toy to play with from time to time … and the new earphone thingy was well worth the extra 10€ – much more comfortable to use for audio chats than my old headset.
Woodpigeon, I didn’t know you have family in TO … do you know that’s my second hometown (was born in Winnipeg)?
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We don’t have a webcam. I don’t much see the use of one, but then a few months ago I didn’t much see the use of chatting or blogging either, and now look at me. I’ll bet it is reaaly nice to be able to see people when you are talking to them, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we got one sometime.
Right now, we are in line for a new computer as soon as we get done paying for all the other stuff we are doing, like the new kitchen counter tops and stove. The computer right now has some sort of issue with being turned off. If you do shut it down, then it gets all sulky and misused and won’t turn back on again unless you press the power button about 15 times. And it is getting very opinionated about whether it will go on line or not. The handwriting is on the wall and we have been carefully keeping our files backed up in case it decides to die.
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I don’t – but my daughter has one 🙂
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Nope. Too big a slob, wouldn’t want the world to know that. Bad enough to get flack for my mess while I was in hospital, from the friends who took care of my cats.
What’s the deal with Skype, anyway? It’s some kind of internet phone, right? Beyond that I know nothing at all about it.
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Well, you don’t really see much of the background with a webcam as mostly just the person (head and shoulders) fits into the frame. Though I did find out last night that if you are going to get up during your webcam chat you should remember to be wearing a bra. 😉
Skype is very cool. If you have a microphone and speakers (a head set works best) you can talk to anyone in the world on your computer and the sound quality is just as good as a telephone. You can also have text chats (IM) and video-audio chats with a webcam.
It’s also possible to have conference call audio or IM chats, but Mudhooks, zoomer and I figured out last night that the video only works with two people.
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As I don’t have a bra, does that mean I have another excuse not to get Skype/a webcam?
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LOL
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🙄
No, Ivan, it means since you have no need for a bra (do you???) that this is something you’d never need to concern yourself about.
So you have even less excuses than I do. 😛
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Drats.
(And no, I don’t need one.)
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az, I’ve set up a new account on Skype. Why can’t I find you?
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I bet she’s hiding behind the couch.
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Actually I was being very lazy and, as it was a public holiday, spent the entire day in bed reading Arthur & George by Julian Barnes. It was great.
Nog went out at midday and came back with a picnic lunch of fried prawns and chocos (picked up at the local fried fish place) and a bottle of wine. Which we ate in bed. And then after that I read some more until I finished the book … soooo decadent. 🙂
I did have the computer on, alji, though I didn’t bother using it. Noticed my Zone Alarm was fucking up again (and affecting Skype) so that’s probably why it seemed like I wasn’t around. Well, I wasn’t really. I was just having a ‘cat day’, which I think everyone should have from time to time.
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az, what’s your Skype name?
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I sent it to you on an email yesterday, alji.
🙂
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Well, I just checked and I can’t run Skype! I’m running dino-tech on my PC, and it’ll be a while till I can upgrade to XP. Bah humbug. By then, they’ll be running Vista 5X…
Do you have to manually turn on the webcam, or could you accidentally forget it’s running, and *really* embarrass yourself? I shudder at the thought, since my senior moments are getting more frequent all the time.
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Yahoo and MSN also have voice and video, though you might also need something more than dino-tech for those.
Yeah, you have to turn on the camera – eek, what a notion, getting caught out in my pj’s, no bra and scary morning hair! Also, there is a little light that comes on the camera when it’s running. Though perhaps I should put a little hood-cover over it just to be sure …
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Great to see, gato cam henry can pounce on my monitor then, mine wont work without crashing the computer, will get it to work again though, just to let you marvel at the rain
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Now I know what to get you for Christmas, az! A Webcam cozy… 😉
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An excellent idea, SC! 🙂
*waves to logicus* Hey, long time no see. But I certainly remember seeing both you and Henry on your webcam … gosh that was ages ago.
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az, what are the dimensions of your webcam? If I remember right you said it looked just like the thumbnail at the top of the post… How tall, how wide, how deep? I can convert the cm myself, if necessary! 🙂
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It looks about the size of a golfball…
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That helps just a heck of a lot… 😉
I’m going to make you one, seriously! BUT does it have to cover the base, *is* there a base… ?
Trust me, you’ll love it.
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