September 1998

Bigpicture

3Com
8100 North McCormick Blvd.
Stockie, IL 60076
Ph: 800-877-2677; Fx: 847-933-5800
Web site: www.3com.com

Price: $159

 

RATINGS (0-5)
Installation: 5
Documentation: 4
Features: 4
GUI: 4
Overall: B+

PC-based video has languished, its fortunes hostage to expensive video cameras and slow Internet connections. Fortunately, both these impediments are becoming less important. Video cameras cost less and less, even as their quality improves. And Internet connections, which just a couple of years ago crawled along at 14.4 Kbps, are already twice as fast. Furthermore, Internet connections will soon double in speed yet again, with popular use of 57.6 Kbps modems. Some communities will enjoy even faster connections with the rollout of cable modems.

It would seem the time is ripe for practical video applications. One such application is the 3Com Video Phone Camera and PCI Capture card. This package of hardware (NTSC color video camera and video capture card), along with an impressive bundle of software, makes for a convenient entry into the realm of PC-based video communications.

INSTALLATION
The 3Com Bigpicture required a two-part installation: a video capture card installation and a software installation. We began the hardware part by inserting the video capture card in a free 8-bit PCI slot on a Pentium II 266-MHz computer with 64 Megs of RAM running Windows 95. Immediately after we repowered the PC, the Windows 95 plug-and-play detected the card. The rest of the hardware installation involved pointing the setup process to the drivers on the 3Com Bigpicture CD (these drivers came with the unit). After the computer finished installing the drivers, we connected the video camera to the back of the video capture card and the microphone jack on our sound card.

The software installation involved running a setup file from the 3Com Bigpicture CD. We had to type in some personal information (name, company name, address, e-mail address, and so on). From that point on, the process was virtually uninterrupted, except between components. At these points, we had to click Next to agree to some legal disclaimers.

DOCUMENTATION
The 3Com Bigpicture CD includes four .PDF files. These correspond to the 3Com Videophone Camera and Capture Card, the Asymetrix Digital Video Producer, iVisit, and Kai’s Photo Soap. The first of these is the only manual devoted to 3Com’s product, while the other three are manuals for the bundled software.

The 3Com documentation begins by covering the installation of the video capture card and camera. The installation portion of the manual is thorough, covering everything from taking the card out of its anti-static wrapper to installing the bundled software package. It included many screen shots and useful step-by-step instructions.

After dealing with the installation, the documentation provides a synopsis of each button on the Bigpicture Application Launcher. Then, the manual covers troubleshooting, online help, and Internet security.

FEATURES
Video Capture Card Features:

• Full color, NTSC video, 320 x 240 pixels at up to 30 frames/sec.
• Support for QCIF (176 x 144 H.324 standard size pixels), QCIF (160 x 120 pixels), and CIF (640 x 480 pixels).
• Support for VCRs, camcorders, and laser disc players.• PCI Bus Master interface and built-in RISC engine for high performance up to 30 frames/sec video capture.
• Ultra Lock technology, designed to enable video decoding performance under poor signal conditions.
• Direct Draw drivers.
• Full compatibility with Bigpicture TV phone.
• Compliance with H.323 and H.324 standards.

NTSC Color Video Camera Features:

• Ergonomic design with built-in microphone to capture audio.
• Automatic or manual focus.
• 24-bit, true color picture and video capture.
• Contrast compensation to maintain light exposure for the image.

Included Software:

• Bigpicture Application Launcher.
• Kai’s Photo Soap SE by MetaCreations; Asymetrix Digital Video Producer video editing software; iVisit from BoxTop Interactive.
• VDOnet VDOmail; VDOnet VDOLive (for Internet streaming video); and VDOnet VDOPhone Professional (3Com 3.0).
• Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0.

OPERATIONAL TESTING
We used the camera in conjunction with the bundled software. The first test we performed was a NetMeeting call over the company LAN. We placed the call on two computers utilizing full-duplex sound drivers.

The video quality was adequate, but the audio quality was fair at best. The audio, which was taken from the unit’s built-in microphone, was simply too faint. While it was convenient to have the microphone built into the camera unit, we thought it might be even more convenient if the microphone could be closer to the subject than the camera.

When we tested the unit with the Asymetrix Digital Video Producer, we adjusted the focal length of the camera to confirm that it did function over a wide range. We also inspected a few switches in the back of the camera. One of these switches toggled the picture from the camera to its negative. There was also a contrast switch, which cycled through the entire range of contrasts available to the camera.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
About the only real negative we detected was the lack of volume from the microphone. We hope the product’s audio quality improves, since audio is as important, if not more important, than video in many applications.

And what about the video? The frame rate was fairly good, but not the fastest we’ve seen. Also, the camera needed a lot of light to perform well, and there it seemed to result in more pixelation than other cameras we’ve seen.

CONCLUSION
The Bigpicture package is excellent for home or personal use. For these purposes, the video quality is fine. Thus, Bigpicture is well positioned for the imminent (we hope) availability of high-bandwidth Internet connections. When such connections become common, video cameras will become an integral part of the personal computer.