Hello r2,
There are few manufacturers of FireWire webcams. One reason is that
USB 2.0 is as fast or faster, depending on the application. It's not
always easy to compare speeds of USB 2.0 and Firewire because of the
different architectures:
?Shopping for a new DVD burner, external hard drive, or scanner (or
just about any computer peripheral, for that matter) just got more
complicated. This is due to the emergence of USB 2.0, a high-speed
connection technology that is competing with FireWire as a way to
connect peripherals to your computer. Both are rated at comparable
speeds?480 megabits per second (Mbps) for USB 2.0 and 400 Mbps for
FireWire. So which one should you use??
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,847716,00.asp
http://www.usb-2-0.com/what-is-usb-2-0.html
I was quite sure a device and/or software marked as Windows XP
Compatible would work equally as well on the Windows XP Pro operating
system. After all, Windows XP Pro is utilized by businesses that would
use Net Meeting and other applications with a webcam. To be sure, I
called two local stores that carry hardware and software, Best Buy and
Fry?s Electronics. Technicians in both stores confirmed that a
firewire webcam that works on Windows XP will work on Windows XP Pro.
I also found the article below:
"Professional Edition is a strict superset of Home Edition," confirmed
Chris Jones, Vice President of the Windows Client Group. "Everything
you can do in Home Edition, you can do in Pro. So we do think there
are home users who will buy Pro."
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
Now, onto the cameras, of which there are few. I found a few in stock,
and one merchant who will have them in stock in about a month.
=========================================================================
Orange Micro Unibrain FWC-SC2P Firewire ieee 1394 Digital Web cam for PC
=========================================================================
Home/Office Monitoring (Microsoft NetMeeting compatible)
? Multiple cameras simultaneous operation and display on the same PC
? Still images or videostream captures, while monitoring
? Low power consumption (ideal for laptop use)
? Built-in f 4,65 mm lens with anti-reflective coating
? Two 400Mbps FireWire ports
? 640x480 video resolution
? 30 frames per second
? Spring clip for portable or desktop flat displays attachment
? Easy to install
The package contains:
? One Fire-i? Digital Camera
? Fire-i? Software
? One 2m (6-pins) cable
PC Supported
Any Desktop/Portable PC with
FireWire support
OS Supported
Windows Me/2000/XP
$99.95 USD
http://www.usbshop.com/usb-shop/unfirdigcamf.html
The site above actually carries several models of Firewire webcams
http://www.usbshop.com/usb-shop/firweb.html
More Unibrain products
http://www.unibrain.com/1394_products/all_products/pc_products.htm
Orange Micro's iBOT webcam including video teleconferencing software
and a 3 port FireWire PCI Board! Orange Micro is first to market with
the iBOT?, a FireWire-based desktop video camera. iBOT harnesses the
speed and power of FireWire unmatched by the slower USB-based web cams
(33 times faster than current USB video Web cameras). In fact, the
inexpensive iBOT uses the same IEEE 1394 technology built into pricey
DV camcorders costing over 7 times as much.
Fully compatible with PC/Windows. $139.95
http://store.yahoo.com/quantumshoppes/ormic70ibfir.html
This online merchant carries the Orange Micro Firewire webcam, but is
out of stock till the end of February
http://www.firewire-1394.com/fire-i-webcam-unibrain.htm
=======================================================
ADS PYRO 1394 Firewire WebCam
=======================================================
ADS PYRO 1394 Firewire WebCam (API-203) for PC and MAC, 30 frames/sec.
at 640 x 480 Format, Firewire IEEE 1394 Web Camera
$89.99 USD
http://store.yahoo.com/meritline/adspyrwebwit.html
This other Yahoo store has the same camera as above in stock as well, $112.06 USD:
http://store.small-discount-kitchen-appliance.com/api207.html
You may want to consider a USB webcam instead. You will have a much
larger selection of cameras with a wider range of features.
?And the first USB 2.0 devices are just now arriving in stores,
identified by a red and blue logo touting ``Hi-Speed Certified
USB.Meanwhile, there is an entrenched competitor: IEEE 1394, backed by
a group called the 1394 Trade Association Apple Computer developed
1394 in the mid-1990s and gave it the trademarked name Firewire. The
other major backer is Sony, using the i.Link name.
With 1394, data moves as fast as 400 Mbps, only slightly slower than
USB 2.0. Apple and Sony put 1394 ports on all their computers; a few
other manufacturers, notably Compaq, put 1394 on a few high-end
models.
On the device side, 1394 has become standard on digital video (DV)
camcorders. All DV camcorders now come with 1394 ports, allowing video
images to be flawlessly and quickly transferred into a 1394-equipped
computer.
But 1394 has been slow to catch on elsewhere. There are a few 1394
scanners, external hard drives and external CD drives on the market,
but they aren't selling in big numbers.
That leaves an opening for USB 2.0, heavily backed by chip maker Intel.
As far as I can tell, 1394 and USB 2.0 are roughly equal at the
technical level -- the top data speeds are close enough to not be an
issue, and the cost of adding either to a new computer is also
comparable.
But USB 2.0 has a huge marketing advantage. Intel doesn't just make
the microprocessors at the heart of Windows PCs, it also makes a
number of subsidiary chips that handle support functions.
By the middle of 2002, Intel will be building USB 2.0 into those
subsidiary chips rather than the older USB 1.1; Intel rivals such as
Advanced Micro Devices are expected to do the same thing. At that
point, all new Windows PCs will come with USB 2.0 ports, most likely
at no extra cost to manufacturers or consumers.?
http://www.3dsolutions.co.uk/infoUSB2_Firewire.htm
For example, an Epinions search turned up these:
http://www.epinions.com/search/?submitted_form=searchbar&search_string=usb+2.0+webcams&tax_name=Webcams&dyn_nav=0&dyn_nav_id=&search_vertical=t71800193&searchbar_submit=Search
Pricegrabber has 53 selections
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search.php?form_keyword=webcam%20usb&skd=1&mode=googlexcp
Google?s own Froogle found over 5,000 hits on the search term ?USB webcams?
://www.google.com/froogle?q=usb+webcams&btnG=Search+Froogle
Hope this helps you find your camera! If any part of my answer is
unclear, please request an Answer Clarification, before rating, and I
will be glad to assist you further.
Regards, crabcakes
Search Terms
IEEE 1394 webcams + XP
Firewire webcams |
