Microsoft LifeCam NX-3000 Review

The value-priced NX-3000 has an unbeatable lightweight design: The 1.5-

ounce camera rests on your notebook's lid and has a nonprotruding lens. The black-and-matte-silver device also houses a noise-canceling mic and a dedicated call button for Windows Live Messenger.

The software has a dead-simple interface, with one-click access to your most recent photo and video captures. Its video quality was sluggish; but at just $60, it's worth considering as an entry-level webcam.

At 640 x 480 pixels, the NX-3000 exhibited low video quality, and showed the loads of latency in a Yahoo Messenger chat. Colors were dull, but the room remained sufficiently bright. With Skype, we were able to move fluidly in front of the camera, but our words were out of sync. The noise-canceling mic delivered clear sound; we just wish it were louder.

With a top resolution of just 1.3 MP, photos were decent on a small scale with accurate colors. Compared with the other models here, the NX-3000's special effects are primitive. But for the price, its colorful two-dimensional borders and animations are a cheerful addition.