The Labtec WebCam Pro's price tag is appealing if you are in the market for your first webcam, but it doesn't offer much in the way of features or image quality.

The WebCam Pro captures live video at a maximum resolution of 640X480 at up to 30 frames per second, both of which are typical specs for webcams. It has a manual focus ring and sits on a base that allows it to rotate and tilt, which provides some freedom of movement when you're chatting. Video quality is reasonably good for a budget-price model. Images are somewhat grainy, but not objectionably so, and contrast isn't bad. You will get best results in well-lit rooms, but this can be said of many webcams.

A snapshot button on the top of the WebCam Pro lets you capture still images at resolutions up to 1,280X960, and the manual focus ring lets you make last-minute adjustments before taking the picture. Image quality is adequate for posting on websites or sharing pictures with friends and family, and the package includes software for sending pictures via e-mail with a single click of the mouse.

The package also includes motion-detection software, so in addition to using the WebCam Pro as a webcam, you can employ it as a security device to keep tabs on your pets, office or home while you're away. The WebCam Pro is compatible with most popular instant messaging applications, including Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, AIM and Windows Messenger, as well as many other instant messaging programs.

The WebCam Pro is compact, lightweight and easy to set up. The camera's base sits comfortably on a desktop or on top of a CRT monitor, but it's not a good choice for an LCD display or laptop.

The Labtec WebCam Pro doesn't have any features to help it stand out from the crowd, but the budget-friendly price makes it a reasonably good choice for a first webcam, as long as you have reasonable expectations.


Pros:  Budget-friendly price, easy to set up and use, includes motion-detection software, compatible with USB 2.0, built-in microphone
Cons:  Average video quality, poor still-image quality, no pan or face-tracking options, doesn't operate at USB 2.0 speeds

Warranty
2 years parts and labor