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LAN Camera Review

Posted by timothy on from the please-mind-your-ps-and-qs dept.

xulphlux writes "The guys over at Tom's Hardware have an excellent review of 4 LAN cameras. While not currently commonplace as of yet, they have good potential for relatively low cost security uses. Keep an eye on the kids outside, your sports car out front, or the good looking girl next door... A couple even have built in 802.11b so no need for wires."

3 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. lan cameras are FUN! by laymil · · Score: 3, Informative

    lan cameras are ultra fun. you can use them for a variety of applications: security, relief of boredom. we've been using an AXIS 200+ (which unfortunately doesn't do video) to keep an eye on things. if you'd like to check it out it can be accessed here. if anyone knows of any hacks to let the cam do video or upgrade anything, it would be much appreciated.

  2. AXIS runs linux by bodin · · Score: 4, Informative

    If it is not clear enough, you should know that Axis supports the community and actually runs embedded Linux with features like NTP, FTP, SMTP and dial-up-when-triggered-by-external-switch and other nifty features.

  3. You'd think so... by wirefarm · · Score: 3, Informative

    So would have I...
    But as it turns out, these things are a bargain.
    A few months ago, I was in Akihabara and grabbed a Connectix QuickCam on impulse - I got the cheapest one, assuming that it was the most likely to have Linux drivers. After all, I had the original B&W Quickcam the week it was released years ago and it had Linux drivers after something like 25 minutes.
    Guess what? The new QuickCam has the most Linux-Unfriendly thing you could imagine. It's Windows-only and the only way to upload pictures to an FTP site is to use some POS service that's free for the first 30 days and only works with some half-dead proprietary service.
    All I wanted was to be able to take a picture from a command line and save it to a file - I'll take care of the rest.
    So that was $70 wasted.
    At my office we just got one of the ones that Tom's reviews that does Pan and Tilt (the Panasonic?) and the thing is GREAT. $400 or so and it comes with a web server (Nmap tells me it's Linux) and does everything that a Linux-friendly webcam connected to a normal web server would do, *if* I could find such a camera. Plus, the pan and tilt and refresh rate are excellent. Such a thing would have cost 4 times the price a year ago.
    I've got enough computers running in my apartment that power consumption is a real consideration too - another real appeal of this thing.
    I went to try to find one of these today at lunch (before reading the article,) but the store didn't have them yet, or I'd have one tonight.
    I'd buy one just to not waste a weekend or two fscking around with unsupported hardware and drivers and he worry of facing a Windows box to the Internet.
    I guess I'd say to you, Just wait a few months - this is the direction that this sort of equipment is going - embedded Linux and network transparency - plus,it will be half the price by February.

    Cheers,
    Jim

    PS - I think any CCD camera has night vision capabilities if you crack it open and take out the filter - at least i heard that somewhere...

    --
    -- My Weblog.