Why your cam craps out...for dummies.

As a previous help desk consultant I got to view the upper class in a completely different light often thinking, "And how do these people make six figures?" while having to patiently deal with flustered professionals on the phone who couldn't figure out that their pitch black screen is due to the fact it isn't plugged in.

Anyways, I'm sure you get the point that even in 2012, there's still a large majority of people who have no idea how a computer works. Some admit to being computer illiterate however most will not take accountability for their ignorance point blank. My case in point...

As much as I broadcast myself on cam, I also watch them. I am a voyeur/exhibitionist fetishist. I even prefer to watch anonymously as an added kink. There is no hidden agenda aside from an odd perversion fueled by being an introvert and understanding people by observance and not questioning. Of course the better the cam, the better the experience. If I liked watching gas station surveillance footage I would work at such a place and happily "recycle" the film but I am sometimes baffled by the fact that there are people who cam and still don't realize why their cams and their machines suck.


If that were true, no one else could cam either. Everyone's stream would be as shitty as yours and no one would be happy.

Laptops are awful for camming, especially if you are connected via wifi. There isn't a strong enough upload strength (bandwidth) to make your stream smooth and skip free. This is why I have a 100' ethernet cord strung across my loft apartment...because I want people watching me to get the best experience. Also, purchasing an HD camera I know that I am streaming more info and need to compensate for that.

Different webcams won't necessarily screw up or slow down but there will be a difference in picture and sound quality.

What I'm getting irritated with are people who have 10 year old computers with mere MB's of RAM trying to stream a cam through the latest shit version of Internet Explorer (while probably having 10 other programs open at the same time as well, toolbars out the ass, and start up add ons they weren't even aware of) and things slow down on their end because the machine simply cannot handle the newer technology. VALUABLE INFORMATION: If your webcamming experience sucks, it's got something to do with your computer! Camming will just slow everything else down and eventually your stream will stop, skip, sound will cut out, etc. Most people don't understand how RAM works so this conclusion isn't generally apparent.

My usual bitch is that if you want to run a computer, you should know how to build one. Also, if you know your computer illiterate, take the time to admit that the reason your machine isn't working properly isn't something that's completely outside of yourself...it's probably something you are ACTIVELY DOING.

/rant

NOTES: If you like camming...
-Logitech Webcams are fantastic. A low end HD model is $45. Spend the money.
-Have a hard line connection. If you need to tie an ethernet cord to your laptop and drag it around, do it. Your viewers will thank you.
-You need cable internet to cam. Don't fucking argue with me on that one.
-Don't play music off your computer unless your speakers are set up away from the mic.
-Have at least 4 GIGs of ram.
-Internet Explorer sucks for camming. Use firefox or Google Chrome. Both are lighter programs and take up less memory.
-Don't run a bunch of shit at one time unless you have some ridiculously fast machine.