Set Up Video Chats
Illustration: Mark MatchoThanks to the Internet, increasing broadband speeds, and some cool new Web-based applications, setting up video chat with your family and friends near and far has never been easier. Not only that, it's practically free.
Getting started: You'll need a reasonably fast Internet connection, some software to facilitate the call, and a decent Webcam and microphone for each party involved. Some camcorders, digital cameras, and camera phones can also function as Webcams; to see whether a device you already own will do that, just consult the user manual.
Webcams: I tested three dedicated Webcams: Logitech's $29 QuickCam Chat and $99 QuickCam Pro for Notebooks, plus Creative's $129 Live Cam AF. All of them worked well, but the two high-end models come with a built-in USB microphone, a setup I strongly recommend for your not-so-tech-savvy chat buddies. Cheaper models usually have a separate analog microphone that plugs into the often-hard-to-locate PC audio input jack.
The software: After plugging in your Webcam, download the chat software and install it. I used Skype, but AIM, Microsoft's Office Live Meeting, and Yahoo Messenger
support video chat as well. Configuring Skype was as simple as selecting the video and audio sources, creating an account for each party, and clicking the green Call button.
Jon L. Jacobi
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