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> 12. My desktop doesn't have a microphone or camera, so they cannot be surreptitiously turned on remotely. Your points are all good but this one gave me pause

> 12. My desktop doesn't have a microphone or camera, so they cannot be surreptitiously turned on remotely. Your points are all good but this one gave me pause for thought. We're all working from home and using our microphones and cameras more than ever. I'm using my regular laptop with plug-in microphone and webcam. Are laptop makers thinking in terms of upping the specs on the microphone and webcams in their upcoming models?

WalterBright 6y ago
What they need to add is a physical electric switch to turn off the cam/mike. In any case, because of all my remote collaboration these days, I bought a decent mike on a boom to use, and my colleagues say it is much better. Still have to find a decent camera.
- maccard 6y ago
  In my experience, even the most basic of webcams is perfectly acceptable when paired with decent lighting. I'd highly recommend something like https://www.elgato.com/en/ring-light https://www.elgato.com/en/ring-light (no affiliation, just a happy customer)
- Sharlin 6y ago
  Many "real" camera manufacturers (at least Canon, Nikon, Sony, I think Fuji as well) have released software during the past six months that allow many of their existing system cameras (DSLR or mirrorless) to be used as very high quality webcams. Likely overkill if all you need is a webcam, but might be worth considering if you also need a camera and/or happen to already own a compatible one.
  - nikau 6y ago
    You can also buy a hdmi to usb capture dongle for around $15 US which will let you use any camera with HDMI out as a webcam. Ideally you want a camera that does clean HDMI out (no ISO indicators etc), but even that can be worked around if you run OBS studio and crop it out.
- tuatoru 6y ago
  The Logitech C920/C922/C930 series with autofocus are OK for personal or small group use. Of the consumer USB webcams, I haven't found any other makers' to be as good. Only 1080p 30Hz, but any more is demanding too much of your recipients' bandwidth and hardware in the general case. Advice from my wife, a photographer: - if you're still having picture problems (after setting the camera's anti-flicker to 50Hz/60Hz as appropriate), put diffuse illumination on your face e.g. a full-screen browser window on http://blank.org; http://blank.org; or for more control--colour temperature as well as brightness--a cheap LED panel and desktop tripod (from a photo supplies shop). - turn off any "smoothing" or "beauty"features in the cam's software. - likewise, don't use any fake background features. Pin up a plain bedsheet behind yourself if you think your place is too messy to be the background. Anyway, once there is a picture of any kind, in my experience most people care more about the audio being unclear or laggy, so you're well ahead.
rsynnott 6y ago
Apple have made major improvements to their laptop microphones in the last few years. On cameras, while they’re usually very bad right now, laptop cameras will never be great; there’s just no room for the optics in the lid. No laptop has had a lid as thick as a phone in decades.
- kedean 6y ago
  > No laptop has had a lid as thick as a phone in decades Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I feel like this is a bit much of an exaggeration. I just measured my Pixel 3 (at its thickest point, the camera lens) and a 2011 Macbook Pro (including the rubber bumper, admittedly, but those were super slim at the time), and the MBP is only ~2mm thinner than the Pixel. The race for ultra-thin laptops seems like a relatively recent thing to me.

WalterBright 6y ago

What they need to add is a physical electric switch to turn off the cam/mike. In any case, because of all my remote collaboration these days, I bought a decent mike on a boom to use, and my colleagues say it is much better. Still have to find a decent camera.

maccard 6y ago
In my experience, even the most basic of webcams is perfectly acceptable when paired with decent lighting. I'd highly recommend something like https://www.elgato.com/en/ring-light https://www.elgato.com/en/ring-light (no affiliation, just a happy customer)
Sharlin 6y ago
Many "real" camera manufacturers (at least Canon, Nikon, Sony, I think Fuji as well) have released software during the past six months that allow many of their existing system cameras (DSLR or mirrorless) to be used as very high quality webcams. Likely overkill if all you need is a webcam, but might be worth considering if you also need a camera and/or happen to already own a compatible one.
- nikau 6y ago
  You can also buy a hdmi to usb capture dongle for around $15 US which will let you use any camera with HDMI out as a webcam. Ideally you want a camera that does clean HDMI out (no ISO indicators etc), but even that can be worked around if you run OBS studio and crop it out.
tuatoru 6y ago
The Logitech C920/C922/C930 series with autofocus are OK for personal or small group use. Of the consumer USB webcams, I haven't found any other makers' to be as good. Only 1080p 30Hz, but any more is demanding too much of your recipients' bandwidth and hardware in the general case. Advice from my wife, a photographer: - if you're still having picture problems (after setting the camera's anti-flicker to 50Hz/60Hz as appropriate), put diffuse illumination on your face e.g. a full-screen browser window on http://blank.org; http://blank.org; or for more control--colour temperature as well as brightness--a cheap LED panel and desktop tripod (from a photo supplies shop). - turn off any "smoothing" or "beauty"features in the cam's software. - likewise, don't use any fake background features. Pin up a plain bedsheet behind yourself if you think your place is too messy to be the background. Anyway, once there is a picture of any kind, in my experience most people care more about the audio being unclear or laggy, so you're well ahead.

rsynnott 6y ago

Apple have made major improvements to their laptop microphones in the last few years. On cameras, while they’re usually very bad right now, laptop cameras will never be great; there’s just no room for the optics in the lid. No laptop has had a lid as thick as a phone in decades.

kedean 6y ago
> No laptop has had a lid as thick as a phone in decades Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I feel like this is a bit much of an exaggeration. I just measured my Pixel 3 (at its thickest point, the camera lens) and a 2011 Macbook Pro (including the rubber bumper, admittedly, but those were super slim at the time), and the MBP is only ~2mm thinner than the Pixel. The race for ultra-thin laptops seems like a relatively recent thing to me.