Webcams

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by LauraR, Oct 17, 2010.

  1. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    Who uses them?

    Whenever possible, I've opted out of having built in webcams on my computers. I didn't have the option with my newer HP laptop. With teenage girls in the house, I just don't like the idea of them.

    My parents are in Bermuda, so I get an email from my Dad about making sure Skype is on so they can call. I download Skype and what pops up?...ME! on my webcam.rolleyes

    Am I the only one who finds them somewhat creepy?

    Of course, the quality was all funky, so my OCD 'have to fix it' kicked in. Now I have a working webcam that creeps me out.:-D
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #1
  2. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    My laptop has a built-in webcam, and I use it a lot for video calls to my family in Sweden. I like it.

    If you don't, they are easy to turn off. :)
     
    Mimsy, Oct 17, 2010
    #2
  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Ah, they certainly are a nice feature, esp. if you do any video calls. Nice to see the person you are talking to .......
     
    TimW, Oct 17, 2010
    #3
  4. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    I can see that being good use for it.


    The problem is, now that I have it on, I feel compelled to use the damn thing.rolleyes
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #4
  5. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    How is that the webcam's fault? :p
     
    Mimsy, Oct 17, 2010
    #5
  6. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member


    Because it couldn't possibly be mine.rolleyes :-D

    Okay...I'll admit. It's kinda fun talking to my sister (in Dallas where she just moved to) and my parents (on their trip out of the country), but it's still just a little weird to me.
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #6
  7. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    Oh, of course. I have to admit that's a perfectly valid argument... unlike computers, we women are perfect after all. :p

    I did take my geek hat profile picture with the webcam on my laptop though. :)
     
    Mimsy, Oct 17, 2010
    #7
  8. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    I know!! Right?? My husband tells me that ALL the time. I'm just not sure why he always has this weird tic where his eyes roll when he says it.:confused



    That is quite the cool profile picture, too.

    Can I just tell you that my webcam is in black and white? Wth is up with that? Btw, the B&W is fixed from purple!
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #8
  9. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    He is in awe of your perfect beauty. It's the only possible explanation. ;)

    That sounds a bit like a driver problem... uninstall and reinstall the driver maybe? If that doesn't work, if you make a thread about it someone might be able to help you sort it out. :)
     
    Mimsy, Oct 17, 2010
    #9
  10. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    Great minds and all that. I figured that what it had to be too.



    Apparently it a flaw in this stupid expensive laptop I bought. I was researching it today.

    Ah well, I suppose since I don't care for webcams, I can deal. I may call HP tomorrow though.
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #10
  11. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    Ouch... that sucks.

    If HP can't help you, you know where the online experts are though... MGs is always ready to help. :)
     
    Mimsy, Oct 17, 2010
    #11
  12. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member


    Oops...missed this. Yep, that's about how I feel. Family seems fine, but anything outside of that just isn't my cup of tea.

    Here's my problem with kids using it (teens, anyway). So I'm sitting there talking to my parents with my 14 yr old girl behind me. As we are talking, she takes the mouse and goes 'click'. There's a still picture of my parents. Okay...so yeah, that's fine. We all know though, that teens now days can get into a lot of trouble with doing things they shouldn't and the consequences are much dearer and lasting then when we screwed up. All it takes is a click of the button to save something they don't want broadcasted, and there it is online or forwarded to all 300 of their closest friends they have listed in their contacts.


    Oh, and my kids have been told over and over by me there will be no tv or laptops in bedrooms (they have a desktop downstairs) and there will be no webcams. As long as you set the tone early, you should be good.
     
    LauraR, Oct 17, 2010
    #12
  13. Kodo

    Kodo SNATCHSQUATCH

    Kodo, Oct 18, 2010
    #13
  14. Spad

    Spad MajorGeek

    No, I too find them a bit creepy . . . I've never had one, but my wife's laptop does. She doesn't use it, nor do I.

    However (talking about OCD :-D) once in a while there was an error message related to the cam and/or its software. Well, that bugged me so I had to figure out the issue. Now there are no cam error messages and it appears it should work fine - so I disabled it at once AND stuck a piece of black electrical tape over the lens! :p

    After being married for almost 28 years of my adult life . . . I am forced to largely agree. God's greatest work of art, by far.

    In defense of computers - much of the time the problems are the result of invalid operator actions. My lovely spouse recently remarked the exact same deficiency can be applied to men in general when it comes to their relationships with women . . . :p

    Drawing on my fine command of the english language, I said nothing and conducted an orderly retreat to my study . . .
     
    Spad, Oct 18, 2010
    #14
  15. sikvik

    sikvik Corporal Karma

    Ditto..

    I guess its every parent's nightmare, for some rubbish getting posted online.
    It is really quite difficult to have full control over a kids net activity. Access to a PC is always an arms length away.
    Kids have 3G enabled phones which take good videos/pics. These phone are also Skype enabled. All it takes is a Youtube account to upload anyway.

    I wish I had restricted my brat- alas she was born with a laptop in her mouth :-D She's a good kid and knows I at least try and keep track of whats happening in her virtual word :p if not only in the physical.
    I know its never good enough, these kids are darned sharp with these gizzmos and apps!

    One can only wish and hope for the best :) Specially when their hormones are in in overdrive.

    Cheers..

    Edit: Kodo WTF:-D
     
    sikvik, Oct 18, 2010
    #15
  16. Kodo

    Kodo SNATCHSQUATCH

    Hey, all that was missing was some pillow fights... :) well.. to keep it "safe" for viewing that is ..lol
     
    Kodo, Oct 18, 2010
    #16

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