I'm trying to find out what options I have for webcams with NT 4.0 on a laptop. I know that there are multitudes of USB webcams out there, and my laptop does have a USB port, but as far as I understand, the port is not functional with NT. Is there some way of getting the USB port functioning, or are there any other choices for webcams in terms of connectivity?

get win2k you will get usb
even if you could find a serial or parallel webcam now it would suck absolute ass.

To put it mildly.

I'm guessing from the second reply that it's not possible.

With respect to the first reply, I would love to change operating systems, however this is the company's laptop and they have decided to use NT as their OS for several years now. Perhaps with our next hardware upgrades they will switch over to XP or something, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Also, from what I gather, a serial or parallel webcam would probably work with NT, but where would I find one?

Thanks for the replies!

Cossie:

Logitec made a parallel port cam that will work only on LPT1 under NT4.
I don't know whether Logitec still sells or supports it. I picked up one
(including software) at the last Pomona Computer Show for $5.00.
At that time, there were at least a hundred of them available.
Good Luck.

I have the same problem. I have had several customers want to add USB devices to their NT 4.0 systems. We also are stuck with this OS as it is on a secure government network.

Too bad the responses to your question were not informative.

So here is what I have found so far, hopefully someone will verify or give constructive advice to this.

USB support for NT 4.0 is almost non-existant but there are some PCMCIA video capture cards that are NT 4.0 compatible. I have not tried any yet but they should work. Unfortunately I have only two sites that give any details.

www.premierelect.co.uk/pcvideo.html

www.micronica.com.au/digvis/nogatech/capturev/index2.htm

I am sure there are other products I haven't found.

There is also another avenue that will make your USB port almost compatible with existing products. It is an emulation program from IP Networks.


www.ionetworks.com/support/nt4doc.html

I hope this is more helpful. If you or anyone else tries one of these products let me know.

Russ

Secure government network? Are you sure your not certified to run 2000 because you might want to check.

Military SIPR networks are allowed to run Windows 2000 (No Windows XP thank god). Besides the OS doesn't matter as long as you have good crypto.

You are correct as far as basic email only systems on SIPR, but for the command and control functions they are still on NT 4.0.

How do I know??

I work on them.

Crypto is not the issue. Stability, compatibility, and standardization is the issue. Plus of coarse the government beauracracy of upgrading any large systems to higher standards.

I remember when the government set the standards i.e. milspec products. Now ?????