Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 (blue)

The Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 offers vastly superior performance and a much improved design compared with last year's LifeCam NX-3000 model. The VX-5000 features a square shaped camera body on top of a bendable, rubber stand, which makes it easy to position on your laptop, LCD, or desk. Underneath the hood, the VX-5000 received a new image sensor and lens that results in stellar image quality, particularly in low light. Aside from an updated look, the bundled LifeCam software is unfortunately the same lackluster application that shipped with last year's LifeCams. Still, you won't find a better performing Webcam for $50 when it's released next month.

Last year's LifeCam models, the NX-3000 (meant for laptops) and VX-7000 (for desktops), featured rectangular cameras connected to clips that were meant for the top of a laptop or LCD but not your desk. The VX-5000's camera is a 1.75 inch by 1.75-inch square, and it's connected to a 3.4-inch rubber tail. The middle portion of the tail can bend, and it holds its shape. The rubber is also heavy enough to counteract the weight of the camera, which lets you find a stable position whether it's resting on top of a thin laptop lid or thicker LCD or CRT monitors. Curve the rubber tail into a C shape, and you can perch the VX-5000 on top of your desk.

The camera body and rubber stand are black, but Microsoft offers a slight nod toward customization by making the camera in one of three colors. We received the red model; green and blue are the other options. The camera swivels from side to side, to about 30 degrees in either direction, but it doesn't offer any tilt. To adjust the camera up or down, you will need to fiddle with the rubber base to reposition it. A Windows Live Call button on the top of the camera brings up your IM contacts to start a video call, but you are almost certain to accidentally hit it when attempting to adjust the position of the camera.

Under the hood, the VX-5000 features a standard VGA sensor that captures 640x480 video and still images (it can also snap 1.3-megapixel stills through software interpolation). What's changed, however, is the size of the pixels on the camera's sensor. According to Microsoft, the pixels are 2.4 times larger than the NX-3000's. The lens has a large aperture that lets more light reach the sensor. The combined effect of the new optics was readily apparent.