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Rating: 
Summary: Bring the world into your living room!
Review: Calling this book "The Little Web Cam Book" is a bit of a misnomer. The book is huge, totaling 356 pages including the index. It is crammed full of useful information, lists of webcam sites, and places where one can download everything you need except a camera. This is a great book! Ms Parker's writing style makes it seem like she is right there with you, explaining each portion. More advanced users will know which parts to skip over, and most chapters stand on their own, so you don't have to read every word to make sense of later chapters. This was good for me, since I was not the least bit interested in reading about the screen savers or how to make a photo my background. This part seemed to drag out, but that is from the viewpoint of an expert; if you have never done those things, you might need to spend the time reading about them. For that reason, the book spends quite a bit on the basics of these ideas. So if you still have the same background picture on your desktop that came with it, check out this portion of the book. Other chapters cover tips for setting up the cam and choosing the best spots for broadcasting. If you want to start another "cat-cam" or other pet-related site, it is worth reading her tips on how to make it exciting for your viewers even when the animals don't feel like being photographed. There are also some other considerations you might want to read about before you invite anyone and everyone into your home or office through a live webcam. Another section tells about how to use the still pictures you can capture with a cam to make GIF animations. This could be for fun, e-mail, or for your web page. The author also goes into creating and editing movies and how to insert GIF animations and movies into web pages. This could save you from tons of angry e-mail when your dog refuses to go near the webcam once it's live. There is a chapter on troubleshooting problems and it seems to be rather complete. Just about every problem I can imagine occuring is listed here with possible solutions and resources. I expected a list of other people who have webcam, but a nice feature I didn't expect was interviews with some of the pioneers and leaders in webcamming. This turned out to be quite a treat. Supplementary information in the book about videoconferencing was great. I didn't expect to find it here either; the author could have written that separately and she and the publisher could have made a lot more money selling it as another book. They didn't, so I think a "hats off" is in order. Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Bring the world into your living room!
Review: Calling this book "The Little Web Cam Book" is a bit of a misnomer. The book is huge, totaling 356 pages including the index. It is crammed full of useful information, lists of webcam sites, and places where one can download everything you need except a camera. This is a great book! Ms Parker's writing style makes it seem like she is right there with you, explaining each portion. More advanced users will know which parts to skip over, and most chapters stand on their own, so you don't have to read every word to make sense of later chapters. This was good for me, since I was not the least bit interested in reading about the screen savers or how to make a photo my background. This part seemed to drag out, but that is from the viewpoint of an expert; if you have never done those things, you might need to spend the time reading about them. For that reason, the book spends quite a bit on the basics of these ideas. So if you still have the same background picture on your desktop that came with it, check out this portion of the book. Other chapters cover tips for setting up the cam and choosing the best spots for broadcasting. If you want to start another "cat-cam" or other pet-related site, it is worth reading her tips on how to make it exciting for your viewers even when the animals don't feel like being photographed. There are also some other considerations you might want to read about before you invite anyone and everyone into your home or office through a live webcam. Another section tells about how to use the still pictures you can capture with a cam to make GIF animations. This could be for fun, e-mail, or for your web page. The author also goes into creating and editing movies and how to insert GIF animations and movies into web pages. This could save you from tons of angry e-mail when your dog refuses to go near the webcam once it's live. There is a chapter on troubleshooting problems and it seems to be rather complete. Just about every problem I can imagine occuring is listed here with possible solutions and resources. I expected a list of other people who have webcam, but a nice feature I didn't expect was interviews with some of the pioneers and leaders in webcamming. This turned out to be quite a treat. Supplementary information in the book about videoconferencing was great. I didn't expect to find it here either; the author could have written that separately and she and the publisher could have made a lot more money selling it as another book. They didn't, so I think a "hats off" is in order. Thanks!
Rating: 
Summary: What all the Fuss is About
Review: I don't have a Web cam, but maybe everyone online should have one. It is a good way to find out if you are really talking to who you think you are talking to. I think anyway. Since this is an Internet craze and I'm crazy about the Internet, you would think I'd have one already. So, if you are like me and are completely threatened by not only the thought of people peering into your private life of typing away at your computer (ha, ha) or you have NO idea where to start looking or what to even look for in a Web cam, this is a great place to start. You will find out: How to choose the best Web cam (Who doesn't want the best?)
Set up and install your cam
Communicate with Friends and Family
Create a live-cam Web Page - this is intriguing, cooking show? Mmm
Meet famous Web cammers in interviews
Design you own cam screen saver
Use easy videoconferencing software
Design you own cam desktop patterns
Take pictures with your cam (see, now that would be helpful for site building and cheaper in the long run)
Find great cam Web sites (ok, so I did go to a few to see if any cats were about)
Record sounds with your cam The author gives you the basics. Like you should have at least a 120 MHz processor and a minimum of 16MB of RAM. It is possible that you might have to buy a new computer before getting a Web cam but the author says most computers made in the past few years should be fine. Since I don't learn anything until I need to, I now see how to look up how much RAM and free space my computer still has. Hey, some of us didn't care before. At the end of the chapters there is a Summary section. The Cams discussed in this book include: QuickCam by Logitech, Compro Dcam, VideoBlaster WebCamII, VideoLabs FlexCam and Planet View, CU-SeeMe Cam Kit for Windows. The author explains which is best for various situations. If you are looking for videoconferencing or want a crisp picture a various distance or want a cam that works with a large variety of programs, then you can decide which is best for you. There is plenty of website information so you can go do more research and find the newest versions. This book also includes information on how to organize your pictures. I loved the section on where to get free images on the Web. Elisabeth Parker really is into "pictures." She will also show you how to convert a picture into an icon. Then, onward to creating and editing movies. This tells you which programs to buy and what you need to download. Ok, finally a great chapter on "Putting Pictures and Movies on Web Pages." I like that she recommends Microsoft FrontPage. Hey the author wrote: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to FrontPage 2000." While Elizabeth doesn't delve too deeply into HTML (you don't need to with FrontPage Thank God!), she does give a few tips here and there. There is also information on embedding a movie with HTML and Creating a Web Page Slide Show. The "plug in" feature? yeah, we can do that! I've seen that on FrontPage. "Web Cams: Examples, Ideas, and Inspiration" is filled with all sorts of places you can go to see other Web cams in action. But then again, who has time to sit around watching the Amazing Fish Cam? I did think the Cat House idea was cute. You could probably get major visitors to your site to see if your cats are napping or running about wildly. One thing I didn't realize was that to use the sound features you need to purchase a separate microphone. I think they might have some web cams with more features now. Anyway, if you really want to learn some useful information without the headache of the learn-as-you-go-by-yourself routine, then this is your book. There are plenty of examples and truthfully, you could take a look through this book and learn something even if you don't have a Web cam. Definitely recommended BEFORE you buy a Web cam.
Rating:
Summary: A model of what a teach yourself computer book should be
Review: If you want to get going with videoconferencing over Internet, and millions of people will in the next couple of years, this is the book to start with.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Introduction to Webcamming!
Review: One of the most popular Internet activities to make a splash on our screens recently has been that of "webcamming." Just about anyone can now set up a suitable camera, including a video camera, and publish nearly real-time audio and video clips online for a variety of purposes for profit, fun, and pleasure. Elisabeth Parker has written The Little Web Cam Book to give members of the online community some real insight into how they can make creative use of this latest Web craze. Webcamming has really taken off during the last two years. Schools, businesses, companies, corporations, and news reporting services have gone online to provide a number of essential services such as news and weather reporting, online education, building security, Webcasting, Webconferencing, and the monitoring of children at home and in daycare facilities. Imagine if you will, being able to log on the Internet and check up on your kids at home or as they are being cared for by others from the comfort of your office! Other family members will be able to keep in touch hundreds or thousands of miles away! Hobbyists have also provided some thoughtful uses as well, such as wiring homes, offices, and other sites with cameras to provide all sorts of intriguing, but sometimes highly suspect video coverage! Webcamming has certainly made an impact on our society and Elisabeth Parker will walk her readers through the steps necessary to give them the opportunity experience this exciting technology firsthand. She makes a number of solid recommendations for buying cameras, software, and services, helping her readers to make the better choices and help them save time and money in the process. Many of the programs she reviews in the book are available online for immediate trial use. Buying, installation, and detailed operating instructions are provided to get readers up and running in the shortest amount of time. I can hardly wait to join in the fun myself! Parker's instruction, laced with humor, her own personal interest, and the illustrations of John Grimes makes this book fun, enjoyful, and easy to read. Plenty of creative ideas and resource information is provided - be sure to checkout the list of Webcam sites located at the back of the book! This book serves as an excellent introduction to webcamming and is must reading for anyone interested in learning about this innovative technology and how it can be put to exciting and productive use!
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Introduction to Webcamming!
Review: One of the most popular Internet activities to make a splash on our screens recently has been that of "webcamming." Just about anyone can now set up a suitable camera, including a video camera, and publish nearly real-time audio and video clips online for a variety of purposes for profit, fun, and pleasure. Elisabeth Parker has written The Little Web Cam Book to give members of the online community some real insight into how they can make creative use of this latest Web craze. Webcamming has really taken off during the last two years. Schools, businesses, companies, corporations, and news reporting services have gone online to provide a number of essential services such as news and weather reporting, online education, building security, Webcasting, Webconferencing, and the monitoring of children at home and in daycare facilities. Imagine if you will, being able to log on the Internet and check up on your kids at home or as they are being cared for by others from the comfort of your office! Other family members will be able to keep in touch hundreds or thousands of miles away! Hobbyists have also provided some thoughtful uses as well, such as wiring homes, offices, and other sites with cameras to provide all sorts of intriguing, but sometimes highly suspect video coverage! Webcamming has certainly made an impact on our society and Elisabeth Parker will walk her readers through the steps necessary to give them the opportunity experience this exciting technology firsthand. She makes a number of solid recommendations for buying cameras, software, and services, helping her readers to make the better choices and help them save time and money in the process. Many of the programs she reviews in the book are available online for immediate trial use. Buying, installation, and detailed operating instructions are provided to get readers up and running in the shortest amount of time. I can hardly wait to join in the fun myself! Parker's instruction, laced with humor, her own personal interest, and the illustrations of John Grimes makes this book fun, enjoyful, and easy to read. Plenty of creative ideas and resource information is provided - be sure to checkout the list of Webcam sites located at the back of the book! This book serves as an excellent introduction to webcamming and is must reading for anyone interested in learning about this innovative technology and how it can be put to exciting and productive use!
Rating: 
Summary: Create, communicate, and have fun with cams!
Review: You've bought a cam, or you've thought about getting one. So now what? "The Little Web Cam Book" can get you started. So get ready to use your pictures and videos to create your own screen savers, movies, GIF animations, and Web pages, set up a Web cam of your very own, start videoconferencing with friends, family, and coworkers, and use your images to beautify your desktop. "The Little Web Cam Book" even starts you off on the right foot by telling you about different products and explaining how to set up your hardware. All you need is a cam, an Internet connection, a Web site, some inexpensive (or free) software that you can download and use right away, and this book!
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