which webcam, Lenovo USB WebCam?

[allen]

does anyone have one?
i went shopping today for webcams, i couldnt tell for sure cause i couldn't open them, but it seemed like a lot of the clip methods for laptop webcams, the webcam hang down and block the screen, or the clip would be clipping the screen, since thinkpads have a thin area on top, 1.5cm on my 15" T60p flexview.

so i thought the Lenovo USB WebCam would be better, but looking at it on the pictures i could find, the clip looks flimsy, and it's bigger than it looks in pictures, 4.5 in long is pretty long.

can anyone that has one vouch for it? does the spring clip fall off when you try to open and close the lens cap? or swivel it on the ball pivot cup?

is the webcam smaller or slimmer than others?
does it come with a pouch of some sort?

thanks!
allen

[mjmccoy]

Allen,

The clips work fine, opening and closing is not a problem, nor is the swivel. It does have a pouch.

The biggest issue is that Lenovo does NOT support the webcam with software for Vista, other than providing drivers (which do work). That means you can use the camera with some programs (like Skype), but the camera is not recognized within Control Panel as a valid camera choice.

Despite over 2 hours on the phone with support yesterday, it just isn't going to happen...

So, if you need a webcam for your laptop, you need to decide the OS you are going to run, and if Vista is not in your future, it is an OK choice. If you ARE going to run Vista, avoid this camera.

[mjmccoy]

After escalation, I have been informed that the OEM software (MediaOneGallery, from InterVideo - now Corel) listed on Lenovo's web site incorrectly states that the software is Vista compatible.

It is NOT.

Lenovo will be changing the web site to reflect that. The license key that is needed for the Vista product was never provided, and thus will never install.

The Webcam USB drivers, however, DO WORK. So it is possible to use the camera with Skype (for sure), and most likely with other programs. It does not, however, show as an installed camera under the Control Panel of Vista.

Hope this helps!

Mike

[mjmccoy]

Good new: Lenovo has responded, and it is now possible to get the OEM software (Lenovo Web Cam Center by InterVideo, aka MediaOneGallery) to run on Vista.

One must call the Help Center, and reference an IBM/Lenovo Internal Confidential Document (MIGR-68464) to get the valid license key.

I have now installed the software, and it does work under 64-bit Vista (as a 32-bit program).

Thanks to Lenovo for stepping up on this. (Note: it may take a couple of days for the document referenced above to be linked to the USB Webcam site, so be sure to refer to the MIGR document #).

Cheers!