Tired of texting and instant messaging? Want something more than a phone call? Well, how about a face-to-face conversation - over the Internet - with anyone located anywhere in the world - for FREE!
To good to be true? Read on.
When you buy your next desktop or laptop, PC or Mac, one of the newest features that you can select is something called a webcam. A webcam (web+camera) is a tiny video camera and microphone that you can use to have a conversation over the Internet. In the old days, we called this 'videoconferencing'. Today, we call it 'video chatting'.
When you buy a new computer, either PC or Mac, it is highly likely that a webcam will be offered to you for an additional $50. Buy it! Even if you're not sure, buy it.
The webcam is built into the top edge of the monitor and looks like one or two little holes (one for the camera, one for the microphone). If you purchased a laptop in the last 6 months, you may already own one.
It you already own a PC and want to add this device, you have two choices - (1) you can buy a flat panel monitor with a built-in webcam or (2) you can buy a stand-alone webcam that you can plug into your PC with a USB cable. Logitech is an excellent provider of these stand-alone webcams. For a cost of $25-$100 you'll be ready to video chat in minutes. Dell and HP make great monitors with built-in webcams for about $200.
Now that you have the webcam, you will need one more thing - an Internet software product that connects you to someone else. While several companies do this, let me focus on my favorite. It's called Skype - and it's available for free from www.Skype.com. The software is fast to download, easy to setup and test, and readily connects to your webcam. Best of all, it's FREE! In minutes you will be ready to chat with someone.
The only remaining issue is that you will need someone to chat with - and they must be a Skype user. Perfect candidates for chatting include (1) your college bound child that you just sent off with a new laptop; (2) a friend or family member that you would like to see more of; (3) a business or community associate that you need to meet with.
One last thing. When you video chat, not only can you see someone else, they can see you. Make sure you are dressed.
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