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Section: Mac + Computers, Peripherals, ReviewsiSights come standard on every new Mac except the Mac mini, but there are various reasons why you’d want to look elsewhere for your webcam needs. Perhaps you need a higher resolution, more placement flexibility, or even a better microphone. These just begin to indicate why I took a look at the Blue Eyeball 2.0 and the IPEVO P2V.
IPEVO P2V
Provides: Video recording
Developer: IPEVO
Minimum Requirements: 1 free USB 2.0 port
Price: $69.00
Availability: Now
What happens when you mix the Pixar lamp with a webcam? You get IPEVO’s P2V, or “Point 2 View,” webcam. It’s a webcam that boasts some pretty nice video specs, at least on paper, along with a sweet articulatable arm for easy placement.
The P2V uses its own app to enhance the overall usefulness of the webcam, so you’ll need to download it from IPEVO’s site. The app allows you to use the full resolution of the webcam, which is 1600x1200. That’s a pretty nice resolution for any current webcam, but the frame rate isn’t very high, and I’m not sure a resolution like that is useful for video chats with most software/connection speeds. Skype only just announced support for 720p. Still, there is a reason.
The P2V software enables you to digitally zoom in and focus on small things relatively close to the webcam (as close as 2 inches). That’s the reason for that awesome articulating arm on which the P2V sits. This camera would be perfect for someone wanting to make a stop motion animation video. Why? Well, the arm allows you to orient the camera right where you want it. No longer are you required to sit right in front of the screen to be seen by your iSight camera. No, no, you can place this anywhere, making it useful, even for Macs with iSights built in.
And it even has a shutter button on it. There’s also a physical switch to specify whether you want it to continually auto focus, or just when you press the focus button. I really like the physical controls, something you rarely see on webcams.
The P2V really is a great webcam, but it costs too much. I have a hard time justifying $70 for something that my Mac already does (well, not my Mac Mini, but most Mac units). If this were closer to $40 or $50 dollars, it would be a great all-purpose webcam. At it’s current price, you have to need the extra functionality the P2V provides—things like the articulating arm, shutter button, focus button etc. I think most of you would have fun with that, but these aren’t necessary features, especially when you’re paying a lot for them.
Appletell Rating:
Buy IPEVO P2V
Blue Eyeball 2.0
Provides: Video and audio recording
Developer: Blue
Minimum Requirements: 1 free USB 2.0 port
Price: $79.99
Availability: Now
Blue microphones are know for their, well, microphones. So, the obvious product for them to make is the Mac’s best webcam right? Well, unfortunately not, but that’s okay. Why? Because as an all purpose mic along with an added webcam, the Eyeball 2.0 makes for a pretty amazing combo.
The EyeBall 2.0 is essentially a Blue Snowflake with a webcam. And no, that’s not digital precipitation, it’s a mic made by Blue. The only real difference is a webcam and $20. So let’s get to the details.
The Eyeball 2.0 is pretty easy to set up. Just flip the mic/webcam up and out of its stand/case. Multipurpose everything, I love it. Then, connect a standard A to B USB cable. Actually, I quite like this, because if anything happens to the cable, it’s cheap enough to replace. Tisk tisk IPEVO, no such luck with the P2V. Now you can either sit the Eyeball 2 on your desktop, hook it onto your monitor, or set it wherever really. Oh yes, don’t forget to press the webcam to release it from its hiding place inside the mic.
Now, webcams are great, but I’m sure Blue would tell you microphones are better. If you already have a webcam, how often do you use it? More often than, say, your phone? Probably not. Webcams and video chatting haven’t caught on quite as much as cell phones have. Sure, it could be the way of the future, but we’re stuck here in the present for the time being.
Okay, so all of this setup is just so that I can say the Eyeball 2 isn’t that great of a webcam, but it doesn’t really matter. Every time that I tried out the video quality, it was plagued by a green tint that certainly didn’t put me in the holiday mood. Not to mention it’s difficult to point the webcam at anything. The stand makes this quite challenging. There’s really nothing to tighten to the hold unit in place, so it continues to move until it rests on its cable. Your best bet is to hang it on the edge of a notebook’s screen if possible. Desktop use is just not fun.
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