Why do laptops HAVE to HAVE a built-in-webcam?!

[coldReactive]

If we were to take that out, we could save some money on our laptops. Are there any laptops nowadays that DO NOT have them?! (I'm not talking about netbooks either, I mean LAPTOPS.)

[edin9]

If we were to take that out, we could save some money on our laptops. Are there any laptops nowadays that DO NOT have them?! (I'm not talking about netbooks either, I mean LAPTOPS.)

What's wrong with webcams? Having it inbuilt frees up a USB port. That's ok with me.

[coldReactive]

What's wrong with webcams? Having it inbuilt frees up a USB port. That's ok with me.

Problem: I don't NEED a webcam o_O I don't video chat, and if I want to take a picture, I'll get a digital camera.

Plus, we have bluetooth, we can use bluetooth video cameras if any exist.

[hoppipolla]

They're cheap though man, and I think they're cool built into a laptop! I'm sure quite a few don't have them though!

[edin9]

Problem: I don't NEED a webcam o_O I don't video chat, and if I want to take a picture, I'll get a digital camera.

Plus, we have bluetooth, we can use bluetooth video cameras if any exist.

Ummm, a lot of people use webcams. You don't have to use it.

[RiceMonster]

Mine doesn't have one. It's over 2 years old though.

[MelDJ]

my brother's hp doesn't have one. it's a security risk if you too. imagine someone accesing your webcam and looking at you..spooky

[edin9]

my brother's hp doesn't have one. it's a security risk if you too. imagine someone accesing your webcam and looking at you..spooky

If you're so paranoid as to think that, put tape over the lense or something :3

[coldReactive]

my brother's hp doesn't have one. it's a security risk if you too. imagine someone accesing your webcam and looking at you..spooky

+1 to that too.


If you're so paranoid as to think that, put tape over the lense or something :3

What if you only have clear tape?

[pwnst*r]

What if you only have clear tape?

so you can afford a laptop but not colored tape?

[MelDJ]

If you're so paranoid as to think that, put tape over the lense or something :3

i use ubuntu. so there are no windows for people to look through my webcam :)

[edin9]

i use ubuntu. so there are no windows for people to look through my webcam :)

Nice comeback.

[MelDJ]

nice comeback.
\\:d/

[edin9]

\\:d/

?

[Tristam Green]

Disable the thing.

[edin9]

What if you only have clear tape?

What if I'm watching you right now with a hidden cam? What if reality is just a giant multiplayer version of The Sims? What if...

[MelDJ]

?

smiley error. time to buy duct tape then..
quite interesting: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248891

[edin9]

smiley error. time to buy duct tape then..
quite interesting: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248891

lol

[megamania]

If we were to take that out, we could save some money on our laptops.
Most of the cost of a computer is Research and Development.

Creating a specific model without a webcam is likely to result in a higher cost to the customer, because the costs of such customization would exceed the savings on the electronics.

I'm not saying you're wrong - just don't assume that it is cheaper without a webcam.

[Insightfill]

There are some scenarios where you're not allowed to bring a camera with you. Notably courts and some secure corporate sites.

Discussion on Slashdot earlier this year may help, although slightly dated: http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/01/2348257

[konqueror7]

There are some scenarios where you're not allowed to bring a camera with you. Notably courts and some secure corporate sites.

Discussion on Slashdot earlier this year may help, although slightly dated: http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/01/2348257

wouldn't it be too obvious that your doing something when you try to focus your laptop to take an image? :)

anyway, these webcams are generic and cheap, why bother, as others have siad, put a duct tape, or just paint it over with a paint spray...haha

[coldReactive]

Most of the cost of a computer is Research and Development.

Creating a specific model without a webcam is likely to result in a higher cost to the customer, because the costs of such customization would exceed the savings on the electronics.

I'm not saying you're wrong - just don't assume that it is cheaper without a webcam.

Well, we've had laptops without webcams for a few years (more so than ones with webcams.) You'd think they'd have plans still for these old non-webcam models, they just have to adapt "slightly" for newer motherboards/etc. and then bam.

[edin9]

wouldn't it be too obvious that your doing something when you try to focus your laptop to take an image? :)

anyway, these webcams are generic and cheap, why bother, as others have siad, put a duct tape, or just paint it over with a paint spray...haha

konqueror7, why don't you work properly with Java?

[konqueror7]

konqueror7, why don't you work properly with Java?

???

[coldReactive]

???

edin9 is referencing to Konquerer the browser as a joke.

[konqueror7]

edin9 is referencing to Konquerer the browser as a joke.

aww!he didn't remove the #7 in my name, thats why i didn't get it...haha...i was like, wtf?!?! :)

[edin9]

???

lol XD

Sorry I'm bored.

[aysiu]

If we were to take that out, we could save some money on our laptops. Are there any laptops nowadays that DO NOT have them?! (I'm not talking about netbooks either, I mean LAPTOPS.) The Dell Inspiron 15n has no webcam:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwzl1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

[konqueror7]

The Dell Inspiron 15n has no webcam:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwzl1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

a solid post to make a point....:P

[coldReactive]

The Dell Inspiron 15n has no webcam:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwzl1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Thank you goddess, Dell has brains enough to have such a laptop. Thank you aysiu. Now if only they could give us an option to have no OS/support shipped with the computer to subtract another amount of price ;)

[Xbehave]

Thank you goddess, Dell has brains enough to have such a laptop. Thank you aysiu. Now if only they could give us an option to have no OS/support shipped with the computer to subtract another amount of price ;)
I think you can get windows refunds from dell (it varies by country and i heard about it on the interblag so it may not be true)

[coldReactive]

I think you can get windows refunds from dell (it varies by country and i heard about it on the interblag so it may not be true)

That's not the case with the one aysiu linked, as it has ubuntu.

[DigitalDuality]

What's wrong with webcams? Having it inbuilt frees up a USB port. That's ok with me.

Most people don't use webcams, i find it silly they're preinstalled on laptops and netbooks too.

I think its a good OPTION for those who want it, but it sucks for the majority of people who don't want it and pay for it anyways.

[SomeGuyDude]

Guys, this is like complaining that your telvision comes with a remote. Pull that webcam out and you'd save about five bucks. If that's really that important to ya, well...

[SomeGuyDude]

Thank you goddess, Dell has brains enough to have such a laptop. Thank you aysiu. Now if only they could give us an option to have no OS/support shipped with the computer to subtract another amount of price ;)

It'd be MORE expensive to ship with no OS on it because Windows allows the machine to be packed with trialware. That's why Windows machines can be ridiculously cheap, company like McAfee/Rhapsody/etc pay good money to have their advertisements installed directly on the computer.

You're essentially suggesting that a magazine with no ads in it would cost less on the newsstand.

[forrestcupp]

The webcam probably adds about $5 or less to the cost. I guess that would buy you a coke and a candy bar.

I'm more freaked out about the fact that some hacker might be looking at me right now. But webcams usually have a green light to show you when your camera is being used.

[LowSky]

Thank you goddess, Dell has brains enough to have such a laptop. Thank you aysiu. Now if only they could give us an option to have no OS/support shipped with the computer to subtract another amount of price ;)

Dell has brains...what does that even mean? Most manufacturers sell a low end model with an "optional" camera. The part cost them like $5, and its become a standard communication tool, You are not really saving any money.

As for No OS Pc, you can buy them, they are called barebone laptops. a few companies make them, most are missing other things as well, like hard drives and RAM too, sometimes even the processor is left out so you can buy your own.
http://laptoping.com/category/barebone-laptops/

Or buy one with Ubuntu
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

or moblin
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu_moblin?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

[pwnst*r]

a lot of crying about something so trivial.

[Nevon]

On a related note, I have yet to own a webcam (built-in or otherwise) that has worked in Linux consistently for more than one release of Ubuntu. Last time the one in my laptop worked was 8.04. :D

Yet I suppose it doesn't hurt to have them. After all, they cost like nothing. I'd rather get rid of the completely useless fingerprint readers.

[blueshiftoverwatch]

What if I'm watching you right now with a hidden cam? What if reality is just a giant multiplayer version of The Sims? What if...
What if the entire universe as we know it is a giant game of Spore being played by some alien creature with 30 legs?

But webcams usually have a green light to show you when your camera is being used.
I wonder how easy that would be to hack. I guess it would depend whether if the light coming on was triggered by something in the hardware of it's something in the webcam software. If it's triggered by the webcam software it could probably be hacked to allow the webcam to record while not powering the light.

[Maheriano]

Yet I suppose it doesn't hurt to have them. After all, they cost like nothing. I'd rather get rid of the completely useless fingerprint readers.
haha, I bought a completely customized Dell off their website and the only option I didn't go for was the stupid $20 fingerprint reader. And I'm glad too, would have just annoyed me.

[samh785]

On a related note, I have yet to own a webcam (built-in or otherwise) that has worked in Linux consistently for more than one release of Ubuntu. Last time the one in my laptop worked was 8.04. :D

Yet I suppose it doesn't hurt to have them. After all, they cost like nothing. I'd rather get rid of the completely useless fingerprint readers.

I just walked in to best buy and picked up this HP webcam, and it's worked on 9.04 and 9.10 easily. :P

[aysiu]

I wonder how easy that would be to hack. I guess it would depend whether if the light coming on was triggered by something in the hardware of it's something in the webcam software. If it's triggered by the webcam software it could probably be hacked to allow the webcam to record while not powering the light. If you're that paranoid, put some duct tape over the camera.

[Simian Man]

Most everyone I know *does* use their webcam. Skype and other video chat programs are more popular than you'd think.
Due to cost amortization, it may actually be *more* expensive for a company to produce a laptop with no webcam since they would be of less demand.
Nobody wants to look at your ugly mugs when you're using your laptop, and if they do, the flashing light will be an easy give away.
It may be nice to deny Microsoft a sale, but as SomeGuyDude explained, the OEM makes deals with ISVs to get all that crapware installed so your savings by avoiding the "Microsoft Tax" are negligible at best.

[SomeGuyDude]

Thus the conundrum: the thrifty Linux user would save money buying a Windows-loaded machine and formatting the hard drive versus getting a no-OS computer and installing Linux then.

In a sense, Linux becomes more expensive!

[tjwoosta]

I wonder how easy that would be to hack. I guess it would depend whether if the light coming on was triggered by something in the hardware of it's something in the webcam software. If it's triggered by the webcam software it could probably be hacked to allow the webcam to record while not powering the light.


It depends on the manufacturer. Some are wired so that the light comes on with the webcam with no software switch, but others are fairly easy to disable the light if someone gets into your system.

[SomeGuyDude]

If someone wants to hack my webcam, good for them. Pretty much all they're gonna see is my face, my dog, and occasionally my unmentionables when I'm laptoppin' in bed.

[edin9]

If someone wants to hack my webcam, good for them. Pretty much all they're gonna see is my face, my dog, and occasionally my unmentionables when I'm laptoppin' in bed.

Lmfao. They could record it and upload it to some pornsite?

[Jackelope]

The Dell Latitudes (and Vostros?) don't have webcams standard. I had one, but returned it for other reasons, and now I'm happy I have a built in cam on my new machine. They're a lot of fun with Cheese.

[forrestcupp]

It depends on the manufacturer. Some are wired so that the light comes on with the webcam with no software switch, but others are fairly easy to disable the light if someone gets into your system.

Do you know that for a fact, or are you guessing that that's how it is?

[tjwoosta]

Do you know that for a fact, or are you guessing that that's how it is?

You think I would make it up?

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1259/settingskv6.jpg

[sdlynx]

If you're so paranoid as to think that, put tape over the lense or something :3

well at least on my laptop there is a light when the webcam is on, and that would definitely tip me off.

[Chronon]

The webcam probably adds about $5 or less to the cost. I guess that would buy you a coke and a candy bar.

I'm more freaked out about the fact that some hacker might be looking at me right now. But webcams usually have a green light to show you when your camera is being used.

Just disable the hardware. Mine can be disabled via ACPI and can't be re-enabled without root privilege.

[mdsmedia]

+1 to that too.



What if you only have clear tape?

Thanks :). That gave me a good laugh!! :)

[murderslastcrow]

Hey, go on eBay and you can find plenty of computers without webcams. XD

If you're that worried about cost, you could always join the Linux Foundation and get their 40 percent discount stuff. Great deal.

[Warpnow]

It costs the company a couple bucks to add a webcam. Its extremely cheap to simply cut a hole in the LCD frame and stuff a very inexpensive camera unit in.

[ZankerH]

well at least on my laptop there is a light when the webcam is on, and that would definitely tip me off.

If someone's capable of accessing your webcam without physical access to the laptop, surely modifying what's likely a single-line parameter to keep the light off wouldn't be beyond their skill.

[SomeGuyDude]

It costs the company a couple bucks to add a webcam. Its extremely cheap to simply cut a hole in the LCD frame and stuff a very inexpensive camera unit in.

I'll bet the man-hours alone of manufacturing them with and without and making it an extra part of the customizing would offset the cost of just putting one on everything.

[coldReactive]

Web Cameras still drain the power even when off. The motherboard has to make sure it's functioning properly so I can turn it on at any time. Even if I disable it, delete the drivers, etc.

/thread debate

[Warpnow]

I doubt that power use is more than a fraction of a watt.

[coldReactive]

Also this one without a webcam :3

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=457026

[Warpnow]

Was on Dell's website and you got to choose yes/no on webcam.

[kpholmes]

ya dells website gives you that option. look under the business laptops though

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/laptop_latitude_e6500/pd.aspx?refid=laptop_latitude_e6500&s=bsd&cs=04&~oid=us~en~4~laptop_latitude_e6500_anav5~~

[coldReactive]

ya dells website gives you that option. look under the business laptops though

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/laptop_latitude_e6500/pd.aspx?refid=laptop_latitude_e6500&s=bsd&cs=04&~oid=us~en~4~laptop_latitude_e6500_anav5~~

The problem with business laptops though, is that they cost so damn much more than the home versions.

[johnboy1313]

If we were to take that out, we could save some money on our laptops. Are there any laptops nowadays that DO NOT have them?! (I'm not talking about netbooks either, I mean LAPTOPS.)

the reason why laptops have them, people buy them, just like phones, you can get a phone with no camera but people generally want to buy them

[Tipped OuT]

Why do laptops have to have built in webcams?

Well, why not? Saves me, and a lot of other people, from having to buy those crappy USB ones.

It's like asking why do cell phones have to come with built in cameras.

[coldReactive]

Why do laptops have to have built in webcams?

Well, why not? Saves me, and a lot of other people, from having to buy those crappy USB ones.

It's like asking why do cell phones have to come with built in cameras.

They don't have to have them though, some webcams are pretty damn good as usb webcams. And not all cell phones come with cameras, a large majority of older ones and pay-as-you-go phones don't have them.

[rudihawk]

Why does it matter? It hardly affects the price. Use it or don't use it. Its your choicce.

[coldReactive]

Why does it matter? It hardly affects the price. Use it or don't use it. Its your choicce.

Okay, I'll make sure to buy a laptop without a webcam just for you (for me to use of course) ;)

[Tipped OuT]

They don't have to have them though, some webcams are pretty damn good as usb webcams. And not all cell phones come with cameras, a large majority of older ones and pay-as-you-go phones don't have them.

You know man, I agree with the above post. If you don't like laptops with built in web cams, then buy a laptop w/o one. Also, just because you don't use web cams and find them useless, doesn't mean everyone elso does too.

[Simian Man]

Web Cameras still drain the power even when off. The motherboard has to make sure it's functioning properly so I can turn it on at any time. Even if I disable it, delete the drivers, etc.
Yeah, but it is such a ridiculously small fraction of the power expended by the rest of the system.


The problem with business laptops though, is that they cost so damn much more than the home versions.
And do you know *why* the business laptops cost more than the home versions? Because they offer so much more customizability which means they can't produce and ship in such large volumes.

/thread debate

[MasterNetra]

What if the entire universe as we know it is a giant game of Spore being played by some alien creature with 30 legs?

I wonder how easy that would be to hack. I guess it would depend whether if the light coming on was triggered by something in the hardware of it's something in the webcam software. If it's triggered by the webcam software it could probably be hacked to allow the webcam to record while not powering the light.

30 legs probably wouldn't happen what use? All those legs would slow you down. not to mention all the energy the body would require to sport or even more so operate all of them would be unreasonable... But hey details. Otherwise I don't see the fuss is about the preinstalled webcams unless your using Windows.


ya dells website gives you that option. look under the business laptops though

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/laptop_latitude_e6500/pd.aspx?refid=laptop_latitude_e6500&s=bsd&cs=04&~oid=us~en~4~laptop_latitude_e6500_anav5~~

To be expected, web-cams can be quite helpful for businesses and if there aren't any business laptops at dell that don't come without a web-cam then that must mean there really isn't a demand for them. Its all about supply & demand, whatever sells.

[lisati]

My current laptop (a Toshiba), which I've had a year, has a webcam. Its predecessor (also a Toshiba, about 3 years old) didn't.

[samh785]

30 legs probably wouldn't happen what use? All those legs would slow you down.
Obviously they're for running around in multiple dimensions... ;)