Micro Innovations 5 In 1 Cool Cam Dual Mode PC Camera with Voice Recorder & Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: Minor problems affect its usefulness.
Review: Overall, the hardware and software both perform adequately, but I ran into some minor problems that affect the usefulness of this device. First, it drains batteries in a few days, whether you're using it or not, and when the batteries go dead, you lose any pictures or sounds left in memory. That means you have to download the pictures and sounds right away, unless you want to risk losing them. That's inconvenient. Switching resolution modes or using the device as a webcam forces you to clear the memory. That's also inconvenient. The camera requires a lot of light. It won't even try to take a picture if there isn't enough light. It just gives you a low beep. This affects its usefulness as a webcam, unless you have a lot of bright lights around your computer. Finally, the built-in speaker isn't very loud, so you have to hold it up to your ear to review what you've recorded.

Like they say, you get what you pay for, but this device still does a lot for the money. You can easily take pictures, record sounds, and even make short video clips reminiscent of old silent movies. You'll just have to learn to live with the quirks to do it.