Logitech C600: The Big Picture

Squarely aimed at the parents/kids/grandparents set, Logitech's Webcam C600 falls in the midrange of seven new products the company unveiled last month.

The C600 features a 2-megapixel sensor that provides detailed, 16-x-9 wide-screen video at 720p (when recording to disk) and 8-megapixel photos (software enhanced). The Webcam also includes Logitech RightLight 2 technology that automatically adjusts pictures in different light settings. A built-in microphone with Logitech RightSound technology is also part of the package.

The C600 also includes Logitech's new software, Vid, which is integrated into the Webcam setup and provides a video call interface with high-quality VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 frames per second. Vid can be set up automatically -- users don't have to worry about downloading separate IM/video-calling apps to download. Contacts are stored by e-mail address rather than screen names, and to make a call, users just have to click on a picture.

To "keep things simple," as Logitech puts it, Vid doesn't currently connect with Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Yahoo Messenger or Skype.

Vid works with Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7. For Mac users, the software is compatible with Tiger 10.4.11 or higher; Leopard 10.5.0 or higher; and Safari 3.0 or new versions. Currently Logitech doesn't offer a version of Vid for Linux.

The software is free for all Logitech Webcam owners, who can also "invite" guests of Logitech to get the software free of charge even if they use a different brand. If you're not lucky to get an invite, Logitech offers a free 30-day trial.

Although it's fairly new, Vid has already seen success and recently surpassed 1 million users according to Joerg Tewes, vice president of video engineering. The C600 also includes Logitech Video Effects, which lets users personalize conversations by adding avatars, face accessories, and masks that mirror expressions and motion. In addition, the C600 works with IM apps including Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and AIM.

Consumer feedback about the C600 has been overwhelmingly positive. On Amazon.com, users gave the product five stars, and glowing reviews.

"This is a great camera especially for the beginner," wrote one fan on the site.

"It sets up very easily. It's great for video calling and comes with a built-in free program to make video calls. It works great in low light, too. I often make video calls in the evenings with just the light from my monitor and the picture is perfectly focused and my face well lit. This is the third video camera I've owned in my life and by far the best one yet."

Another customer agreed.

"I've never really been a fan of Webcams in the past because the quality is usually poor and they usually don't have microphones," wrote another C600 owner. "This Webcam is perfect for me. The installation and setup was very simple and fast. I love this Webcam and would recommend it to anybody.

The C600 retails for $79.99 and in addition to Amazon.com is sold through Best Buy, CDW and PC Connection.

Logitech also released six other new Webcams at the same time; all work with Vid. They are Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 ($99.99); Portable Webcam C905 ($99.99); Webcam C500 ($49.99 U.S.); Webcam C300 ($49.99); Webcam C250 ($39.99); and Webcam C200 ($29.99 U.S.).

How did Logitech arrive on the computing scene? Here's a bit of history:

According to the company's Web site, it all began on Oct. 2, 1981, when Daniel Borel, Pierluigi Zappacosta and Giacomo Marini founded Logitech S.A., and opened its first office in the small village of Apples, Switzerland. The company's first-ever business deal involved developing a graphical editor for Ricoh. Because of the founders software background, they chose the name Logitech, which comes from the French word for software: "logiciel."

Today, Logitech has more than 7,200 employees in more than 30 countries and its products are sold in every almost every country in the world. The company has sold more than 700 million mice, which were new at the time of its founding and offered a more "intuitive way to interact with a personal computer," the company says. It has since expanded its portfolio to include a range of interface devices that are the "last inch" between users and their computer or console game, digital music and home entertainment systems. In addition to the Webcams, Logitech offers keyboards, voice headsets, speakers, headphones, game controllers and remote controls.

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