Orange Micro iBOT Web Cam

Pros: FireWire! Decent software; good video quality, resolution, and frame rate.
Cons: Permanently attached cable, microphone is expensive "upgrade"

Much better than a USB camera, the iBot is essentially just as easy to setup and use as any other Webcam. I have it working successfully with no muss, no fuss on a W2K machine. The FireWire interface allows a much higher quality image than a USB or...

Pros: Firewire Interface, CCD Imaging, Great Value
Cons: High lux, Odd base, Hard to position

Background:
I've begun dabbling with webcams to make a home webcam website. My first webcam was decent - a Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000 and I am quite happy with it. I needed a couple more cameras, so I started researching them a bit.

Why...

Pros: USB 2.0; fast; tripod mount; sort of cool look
Cons: no white balance; need very good lighting; problems with Yahoo! web cam

Under Windows XP, on an HP Pavilion 753n:

I have an Intel USB 1.1 web cam (CS330) that I bought a few years ago. Now that I have a new HP Pavilion with a USB 2.0 and Firewire ports, I wanted to upgrade to a better, faster web cam. My search...

Pros: Firewire allows for greater video speed in video chat, etc.
Cons: Awkward installation. Less than great video quality overall.

Not as extensive as some of my other reviews, but I hope I get the point across here:

The iBOT was the first "firewire" web cam to hit stores, and was adopted by Mac users first, as Macs were more prone to have firewire ports on their systems...

Pros: Easy to focus
Cons: Tips over very easily.

Unless you are a Mac user I would avoid buying this webcam. There is almost no support for PC users and Tech support doen't seem to respond to any e-mail questions.

Only a few adjustments are available for the camera though Windows XP and...

Pros: Great quality, much faster then usb1.1, very easy to setup, easy controls, nice design.
Cons: hangs sometimes but recovers fast

I'm using Win2000 This is a very good webcam. First i tried to use it with usb1.1 and it wasn't ve ...

Pros: Works with Apple/Windows PC's, all instant messengers. Firewire, 'nuf said.
Cons: Tips over easy 'cuz of wire connection, so use clip to hold it to desk.

I've owned this firewire webcam for about 2 years. It's still one of the best I've seen. Good color, good motion capture. Great looking on my desk - It's got style!
I've used this with MS Windows 98SE, 2000, and XP without any problems at all. None!...

Pros: Fast frame rate at 640x320, picks up light well.
Cons: Base does not come with a clip for LCD screens.

I read all the other reviews, and was alarmed that some were glowing while others were disparaging of the iBot. One guy posted his review in the wrong place: the IBot2 USB2.0 webcam has its own section. But anyway, I decided to pick one up and see how it did.

I love it! The 640x320 picture with a frame rate of 30 is awesome. I use the camera in a low light environment and have NO problems with it. The picture is clear and clean, and it picks up enough light. I'm actually surprised by this, because when I say low light, I mean at night with one 75 watt bulb in a recess in the ceiling two feet behind me. That means I'm backlit. Other cameras show me as a silhouette in this lighting, but the iBot had no problems.

I'm a PC user, and installation was a snap. They recommend you install the drivers before plugging in the camera, as Windows XP has a very basic driver for iBot, and won't let you make many adjustments to the picture. I did this, and had zero problems with it.

I highly recommend the iBot.

My roomate has the new IBot Firewire cam for his desktop. The firewire is pretty new, came out after the USB2 one. I dont know about that other review, but his camera is crystal clear, i dont see a single dot on it like there are on my $10 cam. It is pricey at $99, but with the firewire its faster and fun to play with.... If i didn't have my camera i might have invested in this cam...

I guess I expected a lot better quality from this cam than I would a 1.0 cam. I'm keeping it just because I've already invested in a 2.0 card and active cables. It will work for short distance although the quality is still poor. It's in focus yet the picture is grainy. Tried differed encoding software and still grainy.