Logitech has a line of new home-monitoring webcams, available next month, that are easy to set up and deliver high-resolution video for a consumer- level camera.
The cameras come in two versions — the $300 Alert 750i Master System for indoor use and the weatherproof $350 Alert 750e Outdoor Master System. Once the “master” camera is installed, up to five more cameras can be installed at a cost of $230 each for indoor and $280 each for outdoor models.
Each camera comes with its own networking kit, which uses existing electrical wiring and outlets to connect the camera to a home network. They require broadband Internet.
The cameras capture video at a resolution of 960-by-720 pixels at a maximum 15 frames a second. They have motion sensors and dispatch an e-mail alert when they detect activity. Live video, but not recorded events, can be viewed via a secure, and free, website. The cameras also have a built-in microphone.
Setup is a simple three-step process. After installation, the camera records video to an included 2-gigabyte MicroSD memory card when it senses motion.
The recorded video is automatically backed up to a PC connected to the network.
