Buying Hardware For Skyping

[securespark]

First-born wants to Skype on PC rather than on mobile, so was going to buy headphones with mic built in and a webcam.

He's using XP, so how would you disable sound from the webcam?

Thanks.

 

[Astra99]

Assuming the XP machine has built-in sound, and the front earphone/mic jacks are connected, plugging in the headphones to these sockets should automatically disable the PC speakers. If the webcam has its own speakers, then I can only assume that these were disabled through software. Before spending a lot of money, I would be inclined to buy a headset from Poundland (they do work, just!) and a cheapo webcam from fleabay. Once the cheap stuff was working OK would I them pull out more money for better quality - or BS him that the cheap stuff is the Real McCoy.

 

[securespark]

Assuming the webcam has a USB connection (I was thinking of this one: http://www.ebuyer.com/336948-microsoft-lifecam-hd-3000-for-business-win-usb-t4h-00004), and he wanted to use the mic in the headset rather than the webcam, could he do this easily?

 

[Monkeh]

Very easily, you just set the default input device.

 

[foxhole]

If you get a camera with built in mic you don't need the head set.

 

[Monkeh]

If you get a camera with built in mic you don't need the head set.

Webcam mics suck and so does using speakers for voice comms. Hence the headset..

 

[mattylad]

With the headphones plugged in right click on the speaker symbol near the system clock and select recording devices.
In there you can select the headset to be default.

However when you plug it in, it should usually set itself as default.
Same for the headset speakers.