Well, I've got the HP Mini 1000, and sent in a complaint about the dark webcam to HP support. HP sent me *two* replies, both of which gave software advice that had minimal impact on the problem.
One support reply said "the webcam was designed to be used outdoors." I had to laugh. Seems to me like the kind of rationalization public relations would write. I'd like to see them using the high-glass screen outside on a bright day! Never mind that most people I know do the majority of computing indoors.
And the other reply blamed the issue on the .3 meg cam and gave instructions for pumping up the brightness and gamma to an extreme degree. Which also seemed kinda lame... I've seen that size webcam do much better without such heroic efforts. And their suggested adjustments only resulted in a very bad quality slightly-brighter image.
Having looked extensively into the issue on the web, the only quality solution I've seen is the descriptions I've seen akin to this article in Engadget. Pull the filter with a tricky bit of warranty-voiding surgery. The before and after pictures sure make it clear this is a design flaw.
Shame on HP for pretending otherwise, giving lame PR-oriented solutions, and not admitting their mistake.
The N9 has arrived. What we can say from our first experience is that we're in the presence of a fantastically designed device with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and some highly responsive performance.
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Well, I've got the HP Mini 1000, and sent in a complaint about the dark webcam to HP support. HP sent me *two* replies, both of which gave software advice that had minimal impact on the problem.
One support reply said "the webcam was designed to be used outdoors." I had to laugh. Seems to me like the kind of rationalization public relations would write. I'd like to see them using the high-glass screen outside on a bright day! Never mind that most people I know do the majority of computing indoors.
And the other reply blamed the issue on the .3 meg cam and gave instructions for pumping up the brightness and gamma to an extreme degree. Which also seemed kinda lame... I've seen that size webcam do much better without such heroic efforts. And their suggested adjustments only resulted in a very bad quality slightly-brighter image.
Having looked extensively into the issue on the web, the only quality solution I've seen is the descriptions I've seen akin to this article in Engadget. Pull the filter with a tricky bit of warranty-voiding surgery. The before and after pictures sure make it clear this is a design flaw.
Shame on HP for pretending otherwise, giving lame PR-oriented solutions, and not admitting their mistake.
But hey, I'm just a Northern Guy.