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| Webcams?; Anyone know anything about them? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 13 2009, 06:01 AM (227 Views) | |
| kady05 | Jan 13 2009, 06:01 AM Post #1 |
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You're BANNED!
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Ok so, boyfriend is leaving for Japan soon (like.. in anywhere from 2-4wks.) for his job for 6-8wks. I'm already upset about it, as we've been together for 4yrs. and have never spent more than 2 days apart.. so needless to say this is not going to be easy. Anyway. Calling via cell phone is pretty much out of the question. He'd either have to get a phone that supports GSM network, or buy one in Japan and get a calling card (from what I remember). He has a phone in his hotel room though, so at least he'll be able to call if needed. He suggested that we look into Webcams & using Skype to chat. It'd be free, once we got the webcams obviously, and it'd be kind of cool IMO. I know nothing about them, have never had one, neither has he. I have a desktop, he has a laptop. He's getting a check for $2400 before he leaves (that's just for perdiam ), but we'd like to stick to under $100 I think.. although it's really up to him because he's buying them if we do this.So, anyone have any suggestions on good brands, what to look for, etc.? |
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| Renn/aissance | Jan 13 2009, 06:13 AM Post #2 |
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Hakuna matata!
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Been there, done that. Webcam and Skype is almost like looking at each other across the table, except that there's a screen in the way. You can find a decent webcam at Best Buy for $20-$30. I have two that I've liked. My favorite is a Logitech clip-on model that has what they call "RightLight/RightSound" technology. In other words, it lets you play around with the color and contrast and lighting more than another camera in its price range. I've been a big fan of it, the only thing I don't like is that the clip doesn't adjust wide enough for my current laptop (but that's due to the weird angled shape, not to the camera, which did fit well on my old laptop.) Will you be using this on a desktop or laptop computer? If a laptop, you want a webcam which will clip to the top of your screen. (If you have a flat-screen monitor on your desktop, the clip style is also good, but depending on the width of your monitor you may have a hard time finding a cam that will hook on.) If you have a desktop, a cam with a base is better, but think about elevating it so it's about the level of your face because that "staring up into your chin" look is not attractive. Good luck! Edited by Renn/aissance, Jan 13 2009, 06:26 AM.
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| DairyQueen2049 | Jan 13 2009, 06:44 AM Post #3 |
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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Apple's ahve the camera built in then download Skype and there you go! |
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| kady05 | Jan 13 2009, 06:47 AM Post #4 |
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Ok so, with Skype & a webcam, we should be set? Sorry, like I said, I'm totally new to this! I'll be using mine on my desktop, he'll be using his on his laptop. I don't have a flat screen, so I was thinking one with a base would be best for me. Basically what we want to be able to do is talk & see each other without looking like a bunch of pixels.
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| kady05 | Jan 13 2009, 06:49 AM Post #5 |
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You're BANNED!
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I wish! If Kirra ever sells, I'm considering getting a Mac, but until then, I have to stick with my Dell!Eric's the same, he wants a Mac, but wants to save his money more, so he's waiting as well. |
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| Reynard Ridge | Jan 13 2009, 02:20 PM Post #6 |
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Drivin' The Short Bus
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With Skype and a webcam you can chat almost live every day. Every expat in the world uses this sort of system, so it's not unusual or difficult to set up. I *do* recommend getting the blessed things hooked up and running before you leave. Like most technical things, it takes a few minutes (maybe a hour, if I remember correctly?) to get the things up and running on both ends. But it's all really user friendly. Webcams aren't hugely expensive - I think we paid $100 for mine (my husbands Dell comes with one pre-installed), but that was a year ago. I'd expect prices to be down. So, can you visit him in Japan??? It is a pretty expensive place, so that per diem will go faster than you might think. We stopped in Tokyo on our way to Hawaii a couple of weeks back and had a lovely dinner in Narita. Check frequently for deals, if you have any flexibility in traveling. It's an incredible place (I've traveled around it at other times, not just had dinner there ) and well worth the time to get there.
Edited by Reynard Ridge, Jan 13 2009, 02:21 PM.
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| kady05 | Jan 13 2009, 03:02 PM Post #7 |
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You're BANNED!
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Ok cool, I think we'll be taking a trip to Best Buy in the near future! I CAN visit him, and my hotel stay would be paid for, but I'd have to buy the plane ticket. I'm not a big traveler in general though, and his ticket alone cost I believe $3200 round trip. In coach. Non-stop (14hrs. ). Definitely don't have that kind of money! He'll hopefully only be there for 8wks. tops.. it'll be hard, but he's going to make a ton of money while he's there. His hotel expenses are paid for, so he'll only be paying for food, which he can get on the base if he wants. He works for a company that works on all the ships, so he'll benefit from the cheap food and whatnot. So hopefully most of that per diem will stay in his pocket along with the rest of the money he makes . I swear, the company he works for has more money than brains, it's insane. Good for him though, it's just crazy how much money he's going to make!
Edited by kady05, Jan 13 2009, 03:03 PM.
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| jn4jenny | Jan 13 2009, 06:31 PM Post #8 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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$3200!? Let's hope the company's paying for that since it's their fault that he's booking last minute. If you hunt for a deal, you should be able to fly to Tokyo for $900-$1300 from any major city in the US. Try setting a FareAlert at Travelocity and using the Flexible Dates function. |
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| kady05 | Jan 13 2009, 07:27 PM Post #9 |
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Oh yeah, the company pays for everything, including his passport. I asked him tonight and he thinks it's $3200 because it's refundable/transferable/etc. So if they decide to send another guy instead of him, they can put that guys name on the ticket no problem. Something like that. I won't be going though. Like I said, I hate traveling, even going horse shopping 3hrs. away was an issue for me! |
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![]](http://z1.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)
), but we'd like to stick to under $100 I think.. although it's really up to him because he's buying them if we do this.



I wish! If Kirra ever sells, I'm considering getting a Mac, but until then, I have to stick with my Dell!
We stopped in Tokyo on our way to Hawaii a couple of weeks back and had a lovely dinner in Narita. Check frequently for deals, if you have any flexibility in traveling. It's an incredible place (I've traveled around it at other times, not just had dinner there
) and well worth the time to get there.
). Definitely don't have that kind of money! 
1:52 AM Jul 11