HP's Elite 3 megapixel webcam says "hello" in stereo

While it may look like an overhead projector without any hints to the scale, you're actually looking at HP's (relatively) tiny Elite Auto Focus Webcam. Compatible with all the major PC-based, video chat solutions out there (Yahoo, Skype, MS Messenger, AIM), the USB 2.0 cam clips onto your monitor and features a 3 megapixel CMOS camera capable of shooting video ranging from 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps quality on down to 1,600 x 1,200 at a stuttering 5fps. It also brings a built-in stereo microphone, face tracking and Magic-i video effects software, 3 programmable buttons, and a sliding "privacy cover" which lets your date know that the camera really is, off.

[Jesse S @ Mar 31st 2008 5:16AM]

DO WANT.

[zevdawg @ Mar 31st 2008 5:24AM]

Agreed... and at 3MP, sheesh... that's like going from SD to HD ;)

[Ali @ Mar 31st 2008 7:49AM]

Definately want! That's damn sexy! Love HP's design team!!!

[shamrock593 @ Mar 31st 2008 9:07AM]

@ zevdawg

Technically you are going from SD to HD. :-)

[Deputy Doffoos @ Mar 31st 2008 2:09PM]

Nothing like 5fps at 1600 x 1200,
that combined with my 56Kbps connection and we have a WINNER!

[OneLove @ Mar 31st 2008 2:29PM]

HP could never be high end or elite. now die you scum!

[Seanross @ Mar 31st 2008 5:32AM]

!! Can I get a hell yea!?

[DiscoCat5 @ Mar 31st 2008 5:47AM]

Hell yeah!

[Patriks7 @ Mar 31st 2008 6:05AM]

hell no!

[Artiom @ Mar 31st 2008 6:21AM]

It will probably cost around 100$ . All webcams are way overpriced!!! Even today, 1.3 MPX crap from Logitech is about 60$

[jgreenaway @ Mar 31st 2008 6:31AM]

Any idea at all on when this is out?

[vileta2 @ Mar 31st 2008 6:39AM]

So when is the earliest that I can buy this? The source says it has been "unleashed". Any store links?

[pundit @ Mar 31st 2008 6:51AM]

This looks pretty cool, but the extra 2 commas that Mr. Ricker threw into the last sentence aren't. There shouldn't be a comma before 'and' nor should there be a comma before 'off'. If I didn't have a Logitech Pro 9000 that I hardly use, I'd buy this puppy!

[Khoa Khuong @ Mar 31st 2008 6:59AM]

Actually, the first comma is a matter of personal preference. I myself always put one at the end of a list to avoid the possibility of confusion. The second comma, well, could use a "well". Or, uh, an "uh".

[Nick Spacek @ Mar 31st 2008 8:59AM]

Yeah, I guess it just depends on whether or not you are forcing your Americanized grammar on the rest of the world. If you think about it, it makes more sense for all of the list items to be separated by a comma, including the last one. It makes lists that have items that use an "and" in the middle easier to read (a list of condiments: ketchup, salt and pepper, and honey--instead of this: ketchup, salt and pepper and honey).

I wanted to check up on the 'net, and of course Wikipedia is the only reference we need:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_(punctuation)#Grammar

Somewhere in that list it says that there is debate over its use. In my opinion (which doesn't count for much), if you're going to suggest using it in some cases (like the one I mentioned above), then you might as well just get used to using it all of the time.

[BobTurbo @ Mar 31st 2008 7:38AM]

What the hell is that? Jesus. Apple please save me.

[Ali @ Mar 31st 2008 8:29AM]

Yea... Apple will just do the exact same, even slightly inferior, but drape it in white and all you fanboy's will go googoo-gaagaa over it...

[Backlin @ Mar 31st 2008 8:34AM]

ROFL, you should've said "Steve Jobs" instead of "Jesus", since you want to be saved by Apple.

[Nick Spacek @ Mar 31st 2008 8:44AM]

Why is that webcams can never shoot video at 30fps at a resolution higher than 640x480? And most digital cameras, regardless of the megapixel rating, are the same?

Honest question, just wondering. :)

[Alimas @ Mar 31st 2008 8:58AM]

Why the heck would you want a stereo microphone? Do you find yourself often rotating around the mic or something?

[0megapart!cle @ Mar 31st 2008 9:47AM]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if it can only do VGA at 30 fps, and much lower fps at higher resolutions, how is it an HD webcam??

[Unregistered @ Mar 31st 2008 10:45AM]

It looks hideous. Even the Xbox Live Cam looks better.

[Unregistered @ Mar 31st 2008 10:45AM]

It looks hideous. Even the Xbox Live Cam looks better.

[Jeff @ Mar 31st 2008 2:49PM]

i agree.

[Unregistered @ Mar 31st 2008 10:48AM]

Hey, I clicked once and got a double post. Sorry abt that folks.

[Sherm Didit @ Mar 31st 2008 12:05PM]

Funny the apple bashers don't seem to realize the Isight was and is still one of the best webcams available, hence the high priced ebay auctions...

[Broken Haiku @ Mar 31st 2008 12:17PM]

And yet, not a single word on image quality. What sensor is used, what lens? I'd rather have a 1Mpixel camera with less digital noise than a pumped up extrapolated noisy image.

[blork @ Mar 31st 2008 1:53PM]

@Alimas, a stereo microphone can produce sound with more apparent "depth" and presence.

[Wwhat @ Mar 31st 2008 2:17PM]

Both logitech and microsoft make HD cameras (2MP) that do 30fps in 960 x 720 pixels resolution, and logitech for one uses a 'real' carl-zeis glass lens so this sounds like a poor copy of them, but it's nice to know the rest of the webcam world is moving into the 2000's.
Specs as quoted by HP:
Live video: 640 x 480 (VGA) up to 30fps, 800 x 600 up to 20fps, 1280 x 960 up to 8-9fps, 1600 x 1200 up to 5-6fps

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/logitechs-quickcam-pro-9000-and-notebook-webcams-with-carl-zeis/

I do like the concept of a slide for the lens though I must say, it's unnerving to have the lens there stare at you, and they have released hacks to enable people's cameras secretly in the past so it's not completely paranoid.

[k @ Mar 31st 2008 3:12PM]

1600 x 1200 is a 1.92 MP, so even at high rez, we're still missing 1 MP

[Omari @ Mar 31st 2008 4:33PM]

why does this look like Wall-E!?!

[K2 @ Apr 1st 2008 1:42PM]

Sexy design. Any store links?

[Rick @ May 3rd 2008 1:43AM]

It looks damn sexy, as some above have said. I still think the Watchport V3 is probably still the best camera out there. It used to be called the 3Com Home Connect, and was one of the first webcams to have what the Logitech people call "right light technology". Of course, that was 10 years ago. Since Digi bought the Home Connect line, they've come out with several cams. At $175, it's expensive for a cam, but from what i have heard about it, a damn good camera, and worth it.

I bought a Logitech 9000 Pro, and it doesn't do 30 fps. Had a delay in the test video i made. I am going to try the Watchport, and this one, to see if either of these has a delay. We'll see which camera i'll go for soon.