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Buying Guide: Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000
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Webcams are everywhere. Many PCs (and all Mac laptops) have them built in, and the prices for those sold separately have bottomed out. Microsoft's LifeCam VX-500 sells for just $17. But you get what you pay for, so if you want a Microsoft model, skip that stinker and get the LifeCam VX-5000 for only $50. This premium model offers digital pan, tilt, and zoom, and its 640-by-480 resolution yields video quality just a little lower than that of a standard-def DVD. I have a few gripes, however, the biggest being some of the features work only with Live Messenger. Still, for video chats with friends or geographically remote relatives, it's a good buy.
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