g73sw - how is the webcam?

Ive never been able to find software on a g73 to test the webcam... is it awful or useful? Inquiring minds. ;-)

 

look under asus utility in start menu and click on lifeframe. Its the camera software. If you can't find it , download from asus support site.

 

Well mine has the same issue that a lot of other G73 users have. Severe motion blur. I know what's causing it, but haven't yet found how to correct it. It has something to do with how the camera works in low light conditons. I tried using it with Skype in the evening with the Kitchen light on, and it was blurry with any kind of motion. The following day, after doing some research, I tested the camera as soon as i got home from work at 4:30pm. My laptop is next to a window that has the evening sun shining on it. I opened the blinds to let the sunlight hit me and almost no motion blur. This is my only complaint with this otherwise superb machine.

 

That explains why the HP models tout their 'low light' webcams. lol. Some work better than others in low light. Even my macbook pro that has a superb webcam gets hazy in low light.

Given sufficient light is the video fairly fluid?

 

depends on your definition of sufficient light. Even with my Kitchen light on it wasn't enough. With Sunlight hitting me the video was very fluid.

My other laptop is a HP Pavilion G60-230US for which I paid $400. Video on it is extremely pleasing for a webcam. I paid $1900 for my G73SW-A1. grrrrr.

 

Yea, I hear you. The Pavilion webcams are in the same league as Macbook Pros quality wise, I guess its because they are are webcam company. To me everything should be first rate on a $1900 notebook.

Right now i keep creeping up the line, $1499 for the XA1, but id end up swapping the drive for a hybrid anyway and would miss bluray so I think bout the 1849 model but then think, damn its only $150 to go with the 3d model and get the 120hz screen which is likely clearer/brighter/better.

 

You can aslo test it with Skype..
YOu can also test the Microphone as well...

Personaly, I have used it and it works well.

You are all right, it is not without issues, but if you stay still it works...

 

In the store I couldn't test with skype because if you try to install an app it launches best buys little demo appy instead so was looking for something already on the device. thx.

 

I don't know much about webcams, but wouldn't you be better off buying a separate dedicated webcam if you wanted a good one?

 

Integrated will always be subpar. The motion blur has more to do with the drivers. I'd check what drivers you're using, if its the Microsoft generic ones then that's what's causing it.

 

I was grocery shopping in Walmart this past weekend and passed through the electronics section and they had a table set up in the middle of the aisle with some HP stuff on it that were marked down. They had 2 HP Deluxe Webcams, model KQ246AA, for $25 marked down from $50. I went back the other day and picked one up just to test. It's far better than the internal one. Very little blur even low light. As a matter of fact, at it's worse quality, it's better than the best quality I can manage with the G73 internal webcam. It's a keeper.

Yeah, it came with the generic Microsoft driver. I managed to find the correct manufacturer's driver on Asus' web site and installed it. Made absolutely no difference.