March 12

6 comments

HP Pavillion’s webcam software – What happened to the common GUI?

By Christopher Mendla

March 12, 2008


Last Updated on December 4, 2019 by Christopher G Mendla

Geeez, I’ve been messing around with the webcam software that comes with the HP Pavillion dx6000 laptop. I suspect that HP is outsourcing the coding…….. to the local zoo.

The whole idea of a common Graphical User Interface was that you would flatten the learning curve so that when you picked up a new app, all of the main menu items would be relatively in the same place.

The interface for the camera is confusing at best. In order to record, you have to find the icon on the left that looks like a bunch of stuff jumbled together (the black and white scheme doesnt’ help with id). Oh, by the way, there is no mousover tag, you need to right click if you aren’t sure. Now, you’ve found the icon with the camera, film reel and microphone. Click that.

Hold on, we’re not there yet. You need to go and find HP webcam under ‘source’.

Almost there now. Double tap the HP webcam line and wait for the blue light on the webcam.
There is a disappearing menu at the bottom. Move the mouse around till you see that. Now look for the big red bullseye next to the camera icon. Click that and you will see available disk space and recording time so far under the video.

Ok, how do you stop it? Clicking the record button just tells you “Recording in progress”. Hey, I want out… Look for the Square block.. Yep, the square block on the disappearing bottom menu. That will stop it.

So now. where the heck is your video.?? With any luck you will see files on the right side of the screen with names such as webcam_2008_03_03_1300 or something like that. Click on it. Go ahead, I dare you. What I was getting was a video but the sound track was some dopey elevator music. My 12 year old son suggested going to my computer, then to the public folder and playing it from there using windows media player. That worked and my voice was the soundtrack not the elevator music.

Hey HP , If you are going to outsource code writing to the zoo, at least try to have simians do it, not turtles. Well, actually, I suspect turtles could have designed a better interface.

Oh, in addition, if you are in full screen mode, you can’t alt-tab to get to your other windows.

One final word – The Common Graphical User Interface was designed for a reason.

Christopher Mendla

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  1. Nothing, nothing, and I mean NOTHING on Windows 8 (or later) is user-friendly enough to use. It’s not as bad as a smart phone, but it’s trying.
    And don’t say “”smash”” a button. Gross.
    You’re cute, but stop.
    Regards
    Ross Alisha

  2. “my husband opened my webcam so I have no Idea if there was a disk with software on it and now I can’t figure out how to use my webcam it’s all his fault lol. hope I find a disk or something because otherwise this webcam is unusable without buying some 10 dollar a month Service I don’t want. Edit: took about half an hour but found the software lol


    Ragerds:Moses Brodin

  3. OMG!!! THANK YOU!!!! I LOOKED ALL OVER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE!!! I have used skype and it worked fine… Then of course I have a presentation I need to record tomorrow and couldn’t get it to open!! I was like what the hell is going on!!?? I almost left to go buy a camera to hook up!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!! THANK YOU!!!!

  4. Hi! Nice review. Thank you! How do you put that filter to get rid of the green screen? Which software are you using to do so? I am using an iMac and I want to do that. Could you please help me with that.

  5. Like the intro. The review was good overall thank you. I was searching for best webcam for YouTube in 2018.
    May I recommend a couple of changes that will make a HUGE diff? You need to be more specific with your keywords. I will bet money that if you switch these keywords with your first ones this video will been seen 10x+. Keep the following keywords: Best Webcam 2018 and Best streaming webcam. The rest Change your keywords: C920 vs Brio, C920 vs C930, Issues with Brio webcam, Logitech vs Razer, Best webcam for youtube in 2018, new 4k webcam, Logitech brio review, webcam wars, my review of the top webcams for streaming, Logitech Brio review. last thing you need to do is go on Amazon and get affiliate links so you can post those to people that want to buy one of these webcams. No reason you shouldn’t make money for your honest review. Keep up the good work.

  6. OMG!!! THANK YOU!!!! I LOOKED ALL OVER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE!!! I have used skype and it worked fine… Then of course I have a presentation I need to record tomorrow and couldn’t get it to open!! I was like what the hell is going on!!?? I almost left to go buy a camera to hook up!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!! THANK YOU!

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