(Review) - Although the inferior video quality was apparent in webcams 1.0, not too many of us complained because of the innovative concept. After all, it was the first time we could connect a camera to our computer and use it for conferences and security purposes. Not to mention, making home movies of family and friends took on a whole new meaning. However, as technology progressed, the drawbacks of webcams quickly became apparent. While the industry (including consumers) were aware of the concerning issues, the innovation stagnated until recently. At CES 2006, a slew of companies debuted webcams 2.0 with better image quality, specifications and features. Come to think of it, webcams are being reborn with integration in notebooks and other devices to make them more useful and easier to use than ever before.

Philips is at the forefront of innovation with webcams and has delivered a respected solution with the SPC600NC webcam. Unlike traditional webcams with gaudy and comparatively uninspiring appearances, the latest generation of webcams has adopted the sleek and stylish approach that you see with consumer electronics. The SPC600NC is highly presentable with a combination of vibrant red and silver exterior. The device is standalone and is attached to a USB dock via USB port, which makes it easier to attach (or detach) as you please. One of the most interesting features of the SPC600NC is that you can detach the camera from its dock and use the dock as an independent USB port that’s available right on your desktop.

Instead of moving the face up/down to adjust the angle of the camera, you can now move the lens in the upward and downward motion to do the same. It’s just easier to move the lens in a hassle-free manner than dealing with stubborn physical limitations of the first generation webcams. The quick launch and snapshot buttons are located on adjacent sides of the device; in essence, making it easier to quickly snaps pictures without having to launch the application first.

The SPC600NC is rated to deliver 30 frames per second with USB 1.1 connectivity and a built-in microphone for instant communication. USB 2.0 was released a while back, and therefore, it’s difficult to understand why Philips decided not to opt for the current standard. Oppositely, it’s very considerate of Philips to embed a microphone in the device, but it has its limitations as well. The audio quality wasn’t exactly the most detail oriented as we had hoped it would be. In other words, you are better off getting a separate headset if you plan to use this camera for web conferences. But casually, it should suffice. The video and image quality were decent if you didn’t move and stood almost still during the process. With a CMOS sensor and SVGA for photo resolution, the image quality was better and definitely more detailed than the last generation of webcams. With that said, don’t plan to replace your digital camera with any webcam, regardless of the manufacturer. The video quality is decent at best, but again, it’s an improvement over its predecessors. Could Philips have improved the output rate with a better USB standard for improved bandwidth? Possibly so.

The VLounge software is a nice addition to the package as well. It essentially lets you edit, capture, manage and archives photos and videos in an efficient manner. We liked the application. It did what it was supposed to do competently with little to no learning curve.

Philips has employed a number of notable features, including an updated design, sleek presentation of the device and an improvement in performance. Nevertheless, we would’ve preferred the upgrade to USB 2.0, maybe a better microphone and a lens cover. As many of us know, it’s difficult and downright annoying to clean such a small lens with hard-to-reach edges. Maybe giving us the option to cover the lens might not have been such as bad idea.

Although we have criticized Philips for image quality, arguably the most important aspect of a webcam, understand that Philips’ SPC600NC is competitive to a lot of latest generation webcams. If you were to asses the improvement in image quality independently, it’s nothing to get excited about (it’s a webcam after all). But if you were to compare today’s webcams and their predecessors, the output is much, much better.

For the price of $39.99, Philips’ SPC600NC is a competitive solution with updated image quality that’s bound to make a difference in web conferences and snapshots now.