The WebCam Live! Ultra is a respectable (although not inexpensive) choice for individuals buying their first webcam. Image quality is only average, but it's as good as the quality you will get from most budget-price webcams.

The WebCam Live! Ultra has a tripod base that fits well over an LCD or notebook display, but it isn't especially stable on top of a CRT or other flat surface. The base isn't entirely flat, and the camera's top-heavy design makes it susceptible to tipping over. Set-up is easy, and the bundled software is simple to install.

This webcam doesn't have a built-in microphone, but it does come with a hands-free headset. Many individuals find that a headset is more comfortable because it provides additional freedom of movement, but this is a purely personal choice.

The WebCam Live! Ultra can capture live video at a resolution of 640X480, at up to 30 frames per second, and store it in the AVI format. Image quality is reasonably good, except in low-light situations, which is a common problem with low- and mid-price webcams. The camera can capture still images at a resolution of 1,024X768 (software enhanced). Still image quality is also reasonably good, but it can't compare to a dedicated digital camera.

There are no automatic pan or tilt features, but the WebCam Live! Ultra has a 4X zoom lens. The 76-degree wide-angle offers reasonable freedom of movement. The manual focus ring moves smoothly and is easy to adjust.

The package includes a generous software bundle. Creative WebCam Center lets you use the WebCam Live! Ultra for remote monitoring or motion-detection tasks, as well as time-lapse video captures. ArcSoft VideoImpression is a basic video creation and editing program, while ArcSoft PhotoImpression provides basic photo editing and printing tools. ArcSoft Multimedia E-Mail lets you create digital postcards from your favorite images and then share them via e-mail. ArcSoft Collage Creator can turn your favorite images into a multimedia collage, complete with text and clip art. The WebCam Live! Ultra is also compatible with most popular instant messaging applications.

Pros: Easy to set up and use, impressive software bundle
Cons: no pan or tilt features, base works better on LCD and notebook displays than CRTs or other flat surfaces

Warranty
1 year, limited