HP needs to address the webcam problem

[Jurai]

has anyone spoken with HP about the dark webcam problem? cuz according to Slashgear HP said that production models would not have the problem and that it was limited to preproduction models, but obviously this isn't the case.

http://www.slashgear.com/hp-mini-1000-review-2023619/

No matter how much light you have, the webcam is always extremely dark. We tested the webcam in normal indoor conditions, but the image still comes out dark with very little resolution. The only time we were able to get the HP Mini Webcam to work was when we were sitting in direct sunlight. During a conference call we brought up this lighting issue and we were assured that it has been addressed and fixed in for the release of the HP Mini 1000.

I think we really need to get a tech site to pick up the webcam problem to make hp take notice

[MiniKJ]

That's what the Webcam Fix Petition might do...HP just needs to get a notice with the Petition.

[aperry]

I'm hoping we'll have more information on this over the next few days, which is about how long I have to return the thing to Best Buy. I'm a little aggravated that there has been nothing from HP on this issue and I'm worried that they'll continue to blow it off.

[Jurai]

Ya the biggest concern to me is that hp has still yet to come forth with any comment on the problem, it obviously is affecting production models as evidenced by both here and the hp.com support forum

[mrkrad]

official response from hp.com regarding the quality control of the speaker bar being uneven and the crappy webcam:

Hello xxxxx,

Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.

I understand from your e-mail that your Notebook webcam is dark.

xxxxx, an issue like this “Webcam too dark to use in indoor” is not an issue, it is by design. The webcam needs significant background lighting.

Also be aware the webcam is a 0.3 megapixel cam, it is not very high resolution and images will appear “grainy”. This is normal.

Also, the speaker chrome piece has been designed that way.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

If you need further assistance, please reply to this message and we will be happy to assist you further.

For information on keeping your HPand Compaq products up and running, please visit our Web site
at:
http://www.hp.com/go/totalcare

[MiniKJ]

Same response received from HP for me. Made that way by design?! Great Designers then! (sarcasm)

[kokketiel]

I chatted with an HP support agent today. He (I think) googled for the problem and referred to other people removing the tinted lens. I asked him to escalate the issue and open a ticket.

I recommend as many people as possible take the time to contact HP and ask for a ticket to be opened and escalated. Also try to get posts going on sites like consumerist. The only hope of getting an official response is to make HP aware that it is not an isolated case or small group of people experiencing the problem.

Also, this past weekend in Staples, they had an 8.9" HP mini 1000. It does not have the edge-to-edge glass on the screen, nor does it have the mirror finish over the webcam lens. And the picture on that webcam was great. I may take our 1035NR mini in and do a side by side comparison just to be sure.

[intel9295]

YEAH! Petition HP to death!

But yeah, I agree, if this is by design, then they really suck. Not even Dell (which I hate) would be dumb enough to do this on purpose.

[montyuk]

ive just tried using the 2133 webcam file - sp39378.exe - to update my drivers and id say theres been a big improvement,

referencing this post - http://www.speaking-up.com/blog/?p=662

i downloaded the file from here - [url]http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3687084&swItem=ob-61531-1&prodNameId=3687085&swEnvOID=1093&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=0
[/url]

and ran the file, when it had finished unpacking it gave me an error and quit, now i then opened device manager, selected the webcam-101 (im using windows 7) and selected update driver, selected browse my computer for driver software, selected let me pick from a list, selected have disk, navigated to the file within swsetup\sp39378\drv\driver\snp2uvc.inf, selected ok - two options (both worked for me) HP Webcame [VGA] and HP Webcam [2 MP] (was there an option for a higher resolution webcam on the 2133?) selected next and installed.

tested with live messenger and slightly increased the gamma/contrast and its perfectly usable.

edit - ill also mention that i think the original driver lacks an automatic light adapter - because when i run the HP VGA driver it starts off dark but then adjusts and gets considerably lighter.