The Microsoft LifeCam HD-5000 is basically the desktop version of the LifeCam HD-6000 (on the right) notebook webcam with some slight differences. For about $25 you can get a high-def 720p webcam that does 16:9 widescreen. This will blow away most, system included, webcams by a large margin. The LifeCam HD-5000 also comes with some pretty
cool software that allows for 3D video overlays and effects. What we hoped would be one of the best features struggles a bit, the auto-focus. For some reason, we are not alone here, the auto-focus tends to jump around from time-to-time struggling to get a focused picture. Doesn't happen enough to be a major problem.
The design of the LifeCam HD-5000 has a glossy black housing with a Windows Messenger button on the top. The swivel feature on the HD-6000 is removed from the HD-5000.
Long story short, for about $25 this webcam does a great job.