May Not Be Compatible With Your Notebook

This is my 3rd webcam, the first being a Creative Lab Webcam NX Pro and a the second being a Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks. I bought this webcam because of my previous experiences with Creative and Logitech webcams. Most of my family use Logitech webcams and the pictures are very dark and GRAINY. While my NX Pro provided outstandingly clear pictures compared to the Logitechs. However, I moved to another city and needed a webcam for my notebook and no Creative webcam was available at the store, so I bought the Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks. As with my previous experience with Logitechs, the QuickCam provided dark, grainy pictures. Which brings me to this Live Ultra for Notebooks. This is the webcam I wanted originally, but the cost was prohibitive.

I was tired of the dark and grainy picture of my QuickCam. I did research on this webcam at several sites. Amazon had quite a few user complaints about installation and USB problems, but I attributed it to beginners who didn't know what they were doing. Finally, I was able to purchase this webcam and eagerly anticipated installing it because of all the new features:

CCD Sensor - Good for low light conditions
Smart Face Tracking - keeps your face in the camera
USB 2.0 Connectivity
1.3 megapixel at 30 frames per second
Wide view lens

I was pretty sure that my notebook would be able to handle the new webcam. My system specs:

HP Pavilion dv8000z CTO Notebook
Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2
1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 ML-32 Processor
1 GB RAM
128MB ATI Radeon Express 200M integrated video card
80 GB Hard drive

Package Contents. The product arrived in the mail in the original hard-to-open plastic bubble containers that are a pain in the butt to open nowadays. The package came with the camera, a headset, installation CD, users manual, and traveling pouch.

Installation. Re-booted notebook to clear the cache and start fresh. I made sure there were no other devices plugged into my USB ports because I had read at Amazon's reviews, that this camera does not like to have other USB devices plugged in. The webcam's clip fit my notebook very nicely, but you may have trouble if you have a notebook that is curved toward the edge. Inserted the CD and proceeded to follow the instructions to the letter. I installed the Creative Web Cam Center, and several other bundled software except AOL Instant Messenger. I was surprised it came with AIM.

Then I was prompted to plug in the webcam into a USB port and to click the OK button. I plugged in the webcam and pressed the OK button, but the same screen returned. I clicked OK again, and the same screen returned again. After the third time I clicked the OK button, the installation just stopped. And a little window popped up in my system tray saying unknown USB device detected.

I then tried 3 more times and reboots later, the same thing kept happening. Windows would not recognize the webcam. My first thought was the driver was outdated, so I went to Creative's site to download the latest driver. Again I tried, and the same thing happened. I remember reading some of the reviews at Amazon that this webcam does not like to share any USB port, and that the work around was to buy a powered USB hub. I was a little angry that a webcam designed for notebooks would need a powered USB hub. Since I needed to buy a USB hub anyway to connect my printer and other devices, I proceeded to buy a powered USB Hub (supplying 500mA to each port), in the hope that would solve the problem.

After uninstalling the drivers and everything else, I started anew. When the time came to plug in the camera into my powered USB hub, to my great dissapointment, the exact same thing happened! I visited Creative's Knowledge Base and saw this:

"Solution ID # 17557

Creative WebCam Live! Ultra, WebCam Live! Ultra for Notebooks and Live! Motion and Certain ATI Chipsets

Creative WebCam Live! Ultra, WebCam Live! Ultra for notebooks and Live! Motion may be incompatible with some ATI southbridge SB400 and SB450 products."

It also said to update the BIOS to the latest version which I did, and with the same frustrating results.

"If these steps do not address your problem, we would suggest returning your product to your retailer to exchange for a Creative Live! Cam Voice, WebCam Live!, or WebCam Live! Effects camera or alternatively a refund. Please contact Customer Support for further assistance."

Then I went to the support forums and to my horror, many customers had the exact same problem I had. The sad thing is, this webcam is incompatible with not just my notebook, but several other HP, Fujitsu, Toshiba, and other notebooks.

I'm going to see if this webcam will work on my desk top at home before trying to return it, although I'll probably have to get a USB extension cable and make some sort of makeshift stand for the webcam.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend this camera, or any of the ultras to anyone. If you buy this webcam or the other ultra webcam, make sure you're able to return it if it's not compatible with your notebook. This classifies as a Buyer Beware product. Creative Labs has definitely struck out with this product in my eyes because of it's incompatibility with so many notebooks. And to think, this is supposed to be Creative Labs' best notebook webcam. Very, very disappointing. I'll stick with my Logitech QuickCam for notebooks, even though the picture's dark and grainy. At least it works any time I plug it in.