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Share your world with friends and family anywhere, anytime. The Microsoft VX-5500 webcam lets you hold video calls with friends, coworkers, and family in high-quality video and audio, no matter where you are. It's attractive, easy, and fun to use--the extra faceplates let you pick the color that matches your personal style.
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Beware the EULA!
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The Lifecam 5500 is a cute little webcam that's extremely portable and has a nice long cord. It even comes with three different colored faceplates - dark red, blue, white-- so that you can integrate it into your 'look'. Built-in microphone, of course.
Technicals:::
Size: 1.75-inch-by-1.75-inch square
Connect: Uses a Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin Type A
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Min. Processor: 1.8 gHz
VGA sensor that captures 640x480 video and still 1.3-megapixel images.
Warranty: 3 year
License: extensive rights assertion
I tested the VX 5500 on an older PC running XP/home. The first thing that I noticed, besides the fact that there seemed to be a lot of packaging, was that there was a tag on the USB that said that the software should be installed before the camera is plugged in.
I did NOT, however, follow that advice because I could not agree to the Licensing Agreement. [For more on that, See the Con's.] Instead I just plugged it in and waited to see if the software I had previously loaded for my Gigaware webcam would work. It did. Perhaps it is because I used other drivers that I ran into no installation problem like others have commented on. I just plugged the cam in and it worked.
RESULTS:::
Pros :::
o Plugged right in and worked on our XP Home system.
o It works with non-Microsoft drivers.
o It worked with Google video chat.
o It has a Great stand. You can use it with a laptop or PC. (The Gigaware cam we purchased is only for laptops)
o 3D effects (requires software and internet downloads)
o It handles dim lighting conditions well. [Contrarily it tends to wash out in bright light.]
o Cord length is a nice 6 foot. (Longer than the Gigaware webcam by a foot!)
o 3 year Warranty
Cons :::
o The camera tends to wash out in bright light; it does better in dim light.
o Not compatible with Macs
o Invasive User Agreement (EULA) enables automatic updates and data collection.
Generally speaking, this is a nice webcam. It compared favorably with the Gigaware cam and the 5500 dealt with dim light conditions much better. If you are into such things, there are 'fun' 3D effects like hats and what not that you can download.
I'm going to give this product 4-Stars because it's reasonably priced and does a good job. HOWEVER, if a draconian EULA bothers you I would recommend the Gigaware Webcam as an alternative. It is roughly the same price, slightly higher resolution and the EULA doesn't give Gigaware unlimited access to your computer.
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2009-01-07
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Very Good Webcam
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I love how small it is. I remember the old days when webcams were humongous and on tripods. And they had horrible audio/video. The video on this little Webcam is as good as I could hope for, it adjusts automatically depending upon how light or dark my room is. And my PC is next to an open window so it adjusts nicely for daytime or nighttime. The audio is good, I can clearly hear myself when recording. And I like that it can be used to record video. I teach classical guitar and might be able to use this little guy for some on-line lessons. The time lag appears to be minimal, which is why I have procrastinated so long in getting a webcam. I hate saying or doing something and a second or two later the action is delivered to the other person.
The only problem I have had with it was loading the Microsoft software it came with. Instead of using the disk that came with the Webcam, I went directly to the site and downloaded it from there but it still took well over 30 minutes to install. I am using Windows XP. Then my browser, (Firefox) kept locking up on me. "Live Messenger" windows kept popping up and my only recourse was to reboot the system and that only worked part of the time. I have since uninstalled all programs from Microsoft concerning this Webcam and have downloaded Skype which seems to work perfectly well with no problems to my web browser.
So far I am very pleased with this little wonder of technology!
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2009-01-05
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Excellent Flexible Webcamera
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I am very pleased with this product. The camera is small, has a good quality picture, and has a very flexible stand \ mount. It can be perched on top of your monitor, or on an appropriate spot on you desk (if unlike me, you have free space on your desk!). The unit comes with 3 interchangable face plates - a maroon red, white, and a blue face place. To switch them is rather easy.
A light shows on the webcam when it is in use, and it has a microphone built in. The install is quite easy - you just load the drivers via a supplied CD. There are some rather numerous downloads and updates that it grabs from the internet. MS Live is installed.
I set this up as my default device for Skype and MS Live, and it works admirably. This camera is small enough that it could easily be put on a laptop.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-31
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Works great with Skype, nice mounting & good microphone
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This is a nice, small webcam that installed painlessly and works well. After installation, I launched Skype, which was able to access the webcam immediately. The microphone works better than some webcams, picking up my voice cleanly from the top of my monitor. The video was as good as any webcam I've seen. There's not much else to say about the basics. (tested on a Windows XP Pro laptop).
However, what I like about this one is the mechanical or product design. The swivel base is very cleverly designed to unfold like a paper clip and fit securely over the top of your laptop or flat screen monitor. It has grippy rubber and flat edges in all the right places to hold it in place. It will also fold down flat to work on a desk or on the top of a CRT-that's how the product photo shows it. Little details like these make this product a pleasure to use, rather than a drag. Watch out: Some other webcams have simple flat bases, that don't work at all on the thin top edge of laptops or flat screens.
When you are done, the whole thing collapses into a flat package with a cord coming out the back, which is easy to transport in a pocket. This is much nicer than the spherical webcams, which are awkward to carry that way. This is a minor point, but it shows the care that went into the product design of this model.
I have yet to find any webcam that creates as good a picture as a camcorder. I do realize that camcorders cost several times as much as webcams. If I ever get that image quality from a webcam, I will give it five stars. This one ranks four stars because it does everything else as well or better than other webcams I've tried. It actually deserves 4 and a half (but not quite 5!)
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-29
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What a mistake buying the VX-5500
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The reviews I read on the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500 convinced me that it was far and away the webcam to buy. In fact I bought three of them. Two for family elsewhere. After a week of trying; loading and downloading; deleting and reloading 5 times, I have yet to see the parties on the other side. I hear them fine, just cannot get a picture of them. I followed all instructions to the "t" as well. I downloaded only using Internet Explorer. Kept getting error messages. What a disappointment. Worst thing is, I bought it through Amazon.com but did not receive any return documentation, so I'm stuck with the thing. Would not recommend this webcam! And my family receiving them as gifts must be upset with me by now.
Rating: 
(1
out of 5) @ 2008-12-28
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