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Virtual Holiday Visits
11/25/09 - 05:20 PM
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A tap of a mouse can get you in touch with your family.

Instead of high priced travel this holiday season, a cheap webcam can connect you to your out-of-town loved ones.

“It’s just a good way since they live 1,200 -1,500 miles a way and it’s just a good way to see the grandkids and how they grow up and so on,” said webcam user, Alan Schmidt.

All you need is a computer, internet service and the web cam itself. Then you download video conference software, like Skype, G-chat or I-chat and you can talk instantly.

“It’s actually really natural to be able to talk back and forth to a person, just like you’re having a conversation in the exact same room,” said best buy sales associate, Dan Fields.

To set it up you can just plug it in and play. It’s easy access if you set it on the top of your computer.

Best Buy believes these webcams are growing in popularity. On average, the Panama City store sells nearly 300 web cams every two weeks. To get one, you don’t have to break the bank.

“$55 is about the average for a webcam so you’ll be in really good shape,” said Fields.

What you want to look for is a built in microphone and a camera that moves at least 30 frames per second. You can check that information on the back of the box.

Even for the computer challenged it’s easy to use. Just click and connect.

“It was for me, being a computer illiterate,” said Schmidt.

So if you can’t leave town this season, but you want to feel closer, you may want to take a virtual visit.

If you buy a web cam and you can’t figure out how to hook it up, you can always head up to Best Buy and the Geek Squad will set it up for you. That will cost you about $40. But, most newer laptops come with a built in webcam.