Hardware Geeks

Earlier this week HP Introduced the HP Elite Autofocus Webcam, a stylish little webcam that sits on top of your monitor and can deliver up to 12 Mega Pixel pictures, and all for a low price of $99.99.

First thing that popped in my head was, wow a 12 MP camera for $99.99 that’s a bargain even if it is just a webcam.  So can a $99 dollar web cam really deliver 12 MP pictures? Only one way to find out and that is to test the camera out, thankfully for us HP was kind enough to send us one.

We received the camera back on the 31st of March and made a little unpacking post to tease you, and first impressions by some weren’t great, some thought that it was too square and ugly, and while I may have agreed at first the webcam looks much better in person and honestly I like it, the square face it has fits better on my monitor than a round face camera.

Before we get on the review I have to say this, I really enjoyed the camera and I recommend it to everyone but I do have a problem with the software, but read the review to see what my problem was and it may not be a factor for you.

So let’s get on with the review shall we?

Since I wanted to get the sense of what the average user would experience when they installed the camera, so I decided to follow the instructions.

Step one was to push the power button on my computer. So I did, and my computer shut off. Ok I am being a smartass, I did not press the power button but the manual in my opinion should say turn on computer, instead of just an image that basically implies you press that button. (Click here to view PDF of manual) I have two aunts a uncle and a sister who would all press the power button regardless if their computer is on or not.

Step 2 was to put in the CD, Step 3 plug in the camera, Step 4 peel off the protective plastic and Step 5 set up on the camera on your monitor or desk, all of that is pretty simple to do with the exception of the software installation. The software installation was a pain in the butt, complicated and took too darn long.

When you put in the CD you are greeted with a Splash Screen that ask what OS are you using, and what language, while I can understand why it would ask me what language I want to use, it should be able to detect what OS I am running on it’s own, my mom uses Windows XP, my aunt uses Windows Vista and even though they use them daily, if you ask them what they are using they will both say Windows and are unsure if they are on XP or Vista. (Just an FYI the camera also works on OSX)

Once you arrive at the third screen, you can now install the software. You do not need to install any of the software, the camera will work just simply by plugging it in, but if you want to take advantage of the buttons on the camera you must install all of the required software. The PhotoSmart software is optional but in my opinion is a really nice piece of software, and I liked it so much I installed it on all of my computers!

I have been told by HP that some changes have been made to the installation process so you may not have the same experience I did up to this point, the rest of the installation (which follows) remains the same.

Most people will select the required software and install it, one would expect all of this to be handled on its own you sit back it installs and you fire up your camera and start chatting with friends.

Nope not how it works, You select the required software it prompts you to click next for software piece number 1, that installs then you are promoted to install software piece number 2, then number 3 then number 4. Literally took me nearly 15 minutes to install everything, and my custom built computers desktop looked as if I just bought it from some major OEM.

The installation process really bugged me after all this is HP, one of the biggest companies in the world and a company which has a lot of experience with installing multiple pieces of software onto a computer with their printer installations. The webcam team needs to visit the printer team and see how they have the installation setup for printers, which I think makes HP printers some of the easiest to install on the planet.

Then what makes the matter even worst is, you must register the ArcSoft programs not a biggie but, if you do not you get a little nag screen on the bottom right hand corner of that does not go away, oh and don’t expect it to go away if you register, it may disappear briefly but it then turns into little advertisements that pop up every so often. I sure would be pissed if I paid $100 bucks for a camera and I essentially installed adware on my system. Oh and can the little nag advertisements be disabled? Sure but since you’ve installed multiple ArcSoft software you have to disable it in each, these nag screens are just tacky. Then the little threat it gives you about not receiving patches when you disable it is tacky as well.

The ArcSoft software is kinda cool I have to admit I thought it was fairly easy to use and I liked the features it had, but the little nag boxes are tacky and don’t belong on a software that is bundled with hardware, it is also somewhat buggy on Windows Vista, on Multiple Vista Systems after pressing one of the buttons on the Webcam, the software would lock up when I tried to close the program and essentially a reboot would be required, to get everything to work properly again.

So I personally gave up on the ArcSoft, uninstalled it and am using just the default driver for the camera and I am happy.

I am happy because even though the software drove me nuts the camera performs as advertised, you are able to get up to 12 MP pictures. (However ArcSoft is required to adjust the camera settings).

At the default settings using ArcSoft I compared the HP Elite Autofocus (w1707) Webcam to the Logitech 9000 Pro, and with both cameras at their default settings the Logitech kicked ass. Images were crisper and clearer.

But the Logitech Camera had a higher resolution at the default level then the HP Elite Autofocus (w1707) Webcam, so I adjusted the HP webcam to match the resolution and what do you know, the same crisp clear image the Logitech 9000 pro delivered the HP webcam delivered, I then increased the resolution for the camera and it surpassed the quality of images the Logitech 9000 Pro delivered at the default level, but with the 9000 pro you can also increase the resolution, so I can’t honestly say one is better than the other.

So all-in-all the HP Elite Autofocus (w1707) Webcam is a fantastic webcam, delivers crystal clear images provided you adjust the resolution.
It has 3 buttons on the camera so you can easily, take still images, record video and even start up an Video Instant Message conversation using AIM, Yahoo, Microsoft Live Messenger.

However it did take me some fiddling to figure out how to get it to work with my Instant Messenger, because I would press the button and nothing happened.

So if you are having trouble getting your IM button to work do the following:

Start Button > All Programs > ArcSoft Magic-i 3 > Click HP Instant Chat Button Setup.

A window will popup and you can select your default instant messenger. (Pictured below)

Honestly I would of preferred if I clicked the IM button on the camera a little popup would come up and ask me which of my currently running Instant Messengers did I want to use, instead of making me pre-select a default.

The webcam also has a nice little privacy feature, with other cameras if I want to go private I have to either shot the stream or enable a privacy screen in the software, this takes 2 or 3 clicks sometimes more. With the HP Webcam, there is a little switch that you slide across on the camera, and the lense is covered. A lot easier to do and you are also 100% sure that no one can see you.

I wanted to test out the sound quality delivered from the camera, so I set up some Skype and MSN Video Calls and the people I talked too did not complain once about not being able to hear me, a constant problem I have with my Logitech 9000 pro. So in mic sound quality the HP Elite Webcam wins.

The stand for the webcam, can be adjusted in so many ways. You can set up up to sit on a desk or the top of a CRT Monitor and use the clamp feature the base has to clamp it onto an LCD monitor or Shelf. I have mines ontop of my LCD monitor.

I must stress that I really loved the camera, it looks nice, it takes great pictures its fun and easy too use, my only complaint is the installation process for the software and the software used.

It would be nice if HP could offer their QuickPlay software with this camera, maybe a slimmed down version, or something because honestly the ArcSoft Software ruined it for me and I have a feeling it will ruin it for others as well. Maybe if the installation process was a bit more streamlined and there were no tacky nag screens with the ArcSoft software it wouldn’t be an issue, but I think the QuickPlay Software would be much better for a future version of the camera.

I really do recommend the camera to everyone and we award it our Must Have award, but because of the software we had to take away 2 stars and can only award the Camera our 3 Star Must Have Award.

The Camera is great, the picture quality is great, and it looks nice. The software on the other hand is another story.

So when will the camera be in stores? Today April 6th but only at Best Buy and Bestbuy.com. In a conversation last week with HP I asked when it would be available in other stores and I was told possibly in the next quarter.

It was really hard to write this review because the product shined and delivered on all of it promises, it was just let down by some 3rd party software that HP included with it.

The Camera will retail for $99.99 and is a great camera and who knows maybe you will like the ArcSoft Software, but if you don’t you don’t need it to use the camera.

We are giving away one of these cameras, for more information click here.

Post Tags: review  hp  best buy  kronos  webcam 

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