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Creative Labs Dual-Mode PC-Cam 350

Creative Labs Dual-Mode PC-Cam 350

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good entry-level digital camera
Review: I've had the Creative PC-CAM 350 since May 2003, and overall I'd say it does a decent job. This camera has three functions: as a web camera, I'd give it a "B-". The Creative PC-CAM 350 can also take 30-40 second silent color video. In that capacity I'd give it an "A", although files are automatically saved in the .avi format, which is quite large. As a digital camera taking snapshots, I only give the Creative PC-CAM 350 a "C-". The picture quality is at best average.

When you take snapshots, you can choose small, medium or large images. Large images are really splotchy and blurry, so I usually choose medium, which is the default size when you turn on the camera. There is no zoom feature. However, this camera does have a flash you can turn on or off, and a few other snapshot options. It requires 4 batteries. The instruction manual is not very helpful; for more detailed information, you need to install a .pdf help file from the CD-ROM.

The camera worked smoothly on a Windows 98 computer, but I did encounter some error messages on my new XP system, mostly when I turned on the web camera. However, I don't get those error messages anymore. I'm not sure how I fixed it. Creative claims this camera is XP compatible, but during installation XP will repeatedly warn you these drivers have not been tested by Microsoft. As advised by Creative, I ignored those warnings and installed the files. As of today, the camera seems to be working fine.

I have a cousin who owns a top-notch, professional quality digital camera. He occasionally emails me pictures taken with that device, and the difference in picture quality between his digital camera and my Creative PC-CAM 350 camera is obvious. His pictures have detail, focus and color mine cannot match.

In conclusion, I still recommend the Creative PC-CAM 350 camera to people who are new to digital cameras and don't have high expectations for image quality. It's relatively inexpensive and has several features, most of which perform well. Installation and use will probably be smoother on a Windows 98, ME computer.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This camara sucks.
Review: This camara is a garbage. I bought one and thought it was malfunctioning. I asked for other and found out that that's the way it is. The pictures are very bad, they are useless. Only the web cam works but its resolution is very very bad. I haven't bother to check its video recording capabilities because I suppose it won't be to my expectation. What bothers me the most is that the PC-cam center software that it brings has two sample pictures that have very good resolution. So it swindles to to think that you can take pictures like those using this camara when in fact you can't. I think Creative is taking us as fools including these pictures. I will never buy any product from this company.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent entry-level digital camera
Review: This device functions as a digital camera, web cam, and video recorder.

As a digital camera, I'd give it a "C-." Picture quality is only average. You can improve the picture quality somewhat with the included software, or use your own image correcting program. But don't expect professional quality images. There is also no zoom feature.

As a web cam, I'd give it a "B." It works fine on a Windows 98/ME computer, but frequently malfunctions on a XP machine. There is no built-in microphone, so you will need your own to record sound.

As a video recorder, I'd give it an "A-." Video is recorded in the .avi format, which is quite large, with no sound, up to about 35-40 seconds. Video quality is very nice.

In conclusion, this device should work well on a Windows 98/ME computer, but I cannot recommend it for a machine running Windows XP, even though Creative insists it's XP compatible. If you have XP and want a Creative PC-CAM, get a newer model than this one.

April 2004 update: the camera is malfunctioning. The power does not turn off unless I remove the batteries. When the power is running, I cannot take any photos or switch to different camera modes. I replaced the batteries with new ones, but that didn't fix anything. My 90-day warranty expired a long time ago, so now I'm going to get a better, more advanced, XP-compatible, (and of course more expensive) digital camera. And it definitely won't be a Creative digital camera.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent entry-level digital camera
Review: This device functions as a digital camera, web cam, and video recorder.

As a digital camera, I'd give it a "C-." Picture quality is only average. You can improve the picture quality somewhat with the included software, or use your own image correcting program. But don't expect professional quality images. There is also no zoom feature.

As a web cam, I'd give it a "B." It works fine on a Windows 98/ME computer, but frequently malfunctions on a XP machine. There is no built-in microphone, so you will need your own to record sound.

As a video recorder, I'd give it an "A-." Video is recorded in the .avi format, which is quite large, with no sound, up to about 35-40 seconds. Video quality is very nice.

In conclusion, this device should work well on a Windows 98/ME computer, but I cannot recommend it for a machine running Windows XP, even though Creative insists it's XP compatible. If you have XP and want a Creative PC-CAM, get a newer model than this one.

April 2004 update: the camera is malfunctioning. The power does not turn off unless I remove the batteries. When the power is running, I cannot take any photos or switch to different camera modes. I replaced the batteries with new ones, but that didn't fix anything. My 90-day warranty expired a long time ago, so now I'm going to get a better, more advanced, XP-compatible, (and of course more expensive) digital camera. And it definitely won't be a Creative digital camera.


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