The Indoor Master System Camera by Logitech was just as easy to set up as advertised for a beginner-intermediate technophile/technophobe. (I'm not one to comment on packaging, but it was really well-done too.) I received it, took about 20 minutes to set it up, and the camera's working right now and I'll definitely add more indoor cameras and possibly outdoor cameras. The camera automatically records to your computer when it senses motion and you can add additional schedules for recording. The only draw-back is the lack of infrared if you're using this as security at night. I'll have to add adjustments for that (motion sensor lights), but it's an awesome system otherwise. While the system can't be plugged into extension strips with surge-protectors (they're already built-in to the components), you can use regular extension cords to lengthen the range of where you place the camera (same with the computer you use to plug the whole system in - I'm using a laptop right now with an extension cord because the Logitech cord is really short). There are several different mounting systems for the camera (easy-to-attach suction can be placed on either side of the camera for looking out of the window and looking in from the window, there are wall and ceiling brackets, or a stand-alone desk holder). I had purchased another similarly-priced security camera that had to be routed to the computer in a more convoluted way, but this is a system that is much simpler in that it uses plug-in receivers and immediately connects camera to computer through electrical outlets. It also allows you to remotely view what's occurring via the web and sends alerts (something I haven't had time to try). The only small nit I have are the stickers that accompany the system - they show an icon of the outdoor camera that's not really a clear sign of surveillance or video security. I thought the stickers should mention the words "video security" or something a little clearer. Amazon.com shipped it really quickly and I'm just really pleased with every aspect of this purchase.

Dogs are wonderful prognosticators when it comes to an impending knock on the door. Their only shortcoming on this front, really, is that they are limited in their ability to let you know who approaches. I've often been at work in some part of the house, typing away on my laptop, only to have a knock at the door derail my train of thought. Is it a delivery person dropping off a parcel? Perhaps a neighbor with a particular need or request, maybe it's a local kid selling for some fund raiser. I want to answer these knocks. But the carpet cleaning service trying to drum up business, or the friendly but somewhat sinister old ladies trying to sell their own version of the afterlife to me, or the relatively creepy guy that wants to sell frozen meat from the back of his shabby non-descript truck? I mean, sometimes I just have better things to do.

I've wanted a camera system for a number of years. It's one of those things where I would do some internet searches, read some reviews, browse around here on Amazon - but never saw the right time to take a leap. I wanted something that would integrate with my home network. I didn't just want a little dedicated monitor somewhere hooked up to a VCR, I wanted to be able to access the feed from any of my home computers, and ideally, over the internet. I didn't want to pay a monthly service fee, I wanted a range of camera options that included interior, exterior, and ideally some ability to see in the dark. Most of all, I wanted something that would be well designed and reliable. Wilife seemed to meet all of these requirements, so when the opportunity to try it out presented itself, I finally took the leap.

Things seemed to go pretty smoothly right out of the box. I mounted the camera with the provided suction cup on to a front facing window (ultimately I'd end up using the supplied hard mount to fix a better angle), ran the cable from that down to the supplied adapter set into a nearby outlet. By my desktop which serves as a print and file server for the other laptops, I plugged in the other wall outlet, and ran the USB cable provided from that to the computer. After installing the software and registering for the free online access to the feeds, it did a quick search, and suddenly I had a live view of my front yard before me on the monitor. I tweaked a few settings (went up to the maximum 15fps setting, and the highest resolution at 640x480), turned the lens just a bit to provide sharper focus, and everything looked terrific.

The Wilife control panel allows you to adjust recording sensitivity. Out of the box, when someone walked down the sidewalk on the other side of the street, it didn't record. Just to test it, I pulled the slider to the top of the 100 point scale. Now it would record when birds flew by. I took it down to the bottom, and even cars passing on the street didn't trigger it. I left it around 65 ultimately, which would pick up people or animal movement in my front yard, cars in the street, but not much else across the street. I found the slider to have a full range of sensitivity, rather than the "all or nothing" I've read about with similar products.

We were delighted, everything seemed to be fine, right up until I needed to send a document to the shared printer. No dice. When you plug everything in, a new network connection is created on your computer. All the data is passing through your electrical wires, which is why you can't plug the adapters into surge protectors and the like. Then it comes out through the outlet, passes through the USB cable into your computer, all within its own little network with its own IP address range. For 99% of those who buy and use this product, I think that's all going to work brilliantly. My network setup is a little more complicated. This desktop already had 3 adapters. Two wired, one wireless. Two networks converged at this point, one providing internet access. For whatever reason, the presence of the new USB adapter was preventing other computers in the same workgroup from accessing the shared resources. I contacted tech support over email, sent them diagnostics generated from the Wilife control center, and we tried disabling a variety of things that could have been interfering. After not having any luck in that direction, they sent me an ethernet bridge. During this time I could either have my camera up, or shared resource access to that machine - but not both. Upon receipt (which was literally the next day in this case), I disconnected the USB cable from the desktop and the plug to which it was connected. I plugged in the new adapter, and ran a standard network cable from it to my router. Instantly the camera came back to life, and we discovered that we could once again access the shared resources on the desktop. Problem fixed by the responsive, friendly, and entirely thorough staff - a wholly positive tech support experience that, quite frankly, I'm just not accustomed to. As the old saying goes though; your mileage may vary.

The same holds true depending on the relative power and speed of the computer you intend to run the control center on. Handling a 640x480 video stream at 15fps can task some older computers. Multiply that out across a few cameras, add the recording function which goes on and off dynamically (and/or by a scheduler you set), and you're apt at some point to start seeing some stutters on the live playback. I can't speak to anyone else's system but my own, but on a two or three year old desktop running an AMD64 processor at 2.2GHz with 1GB of RAM, the only time I notice a hiccup on live playback is when the recorder is kicking in, and I don't see the same when I review the recorded output. I'm at the highest possible visual quality settings, I imagine if I went up to 3 or 4 cameras, I might have to bring the settings down a bit -- but for the time being, it's smooth sailing even while that machine also streams audio out to the Logitech Squeezebox Duet Network Music System, handles regular and generally large print queues, as well as limited browser function.

Since installing this system, this camera caught damage happening to a package which might have otherwise represented a difficult dispute, caught some local kids setting fire to a few bags of lawn waste (odd one, that), and gives us advance warning whenever something is about to be delivered, or a guest is approaching otherwise unannounced. We love our LukWerks.

This is our second go-around with the WiLife system. I initially purchased WiLife last summer while we were getting ready for a month-long trip through Alaska on motorcycles.

I have an Ipaq handheld PDA with wifi, and was looking forward to being able to view recorded Wilife video (gotta see the cats!) whenever we got wireless Internet access on the road.

Unfortunately, even with a Premium (paid) membership, the system doesn't allow you to view RECORDED video on a handheld or internet-enabled phone. You can view live video on a handheld, or you can view recorded video on a regular laptop.

This wasn't going to meet our needs, so I returned the system.

However, With even more travelling in our future, and even though we have a very good security system, we still wanted to check on the cats every so often. So, I spent some time checking out other options. After exhausting all the possibilities under $500, the Wilife still came out on top.

So, we reordered from Amazon (they must think we're nuts!).

The new system was just as easy and quick to set up as last time. I had it all plugged in and running in less than 10 minutes.

The only issue is plugging the adapter directly into a socket by your computer. Most of us have both those plugs already spoken for! Fortunately we live in a new home with a multitude of plugs, after some shuffling, I freed up one by the computer.

Video quality is very good, even in low light conditions. For nighttime viewing, I have a regular table lamp set up on a timer in the room with the camera.

We have an automated cat food dispenser, so we know when the cats will be in this room (the food is dispensed on a schedule), so I'll know to have my iPaq fired up and watching the live video at these times.

I also set up the email notification system, which I have set to send single-frame shots of any activity.

Between these two options, we will be able to keep track of the cats, and be relaxed knowing they're healthy and well fed.

Although the WiLife system isn't perfect, and it's not cheap, I believe you get a good value for your money. With some thought and creativity it can suit most every need.

I think my title says it all. Here is a good basic INDOOR security camera. It's not an outdoor camera (there is a outdoor camera available, but this is not the one), and it comes with the monitor and software. It's wireless, so that you do not have to run wires through the house, however you cannot plug it into an extension or surge protector.

It does take time to setup. Put aside a good hour if not longer unless you are well aware of computers and setting up this type of camera. IMHO with anything new, I set aside a good hour to do a setup as things almost always do not go according to plan, then I try to rush and do more wrong and things go from bad to worse. So set aside time.

There are some subscriptions you have to pay extra for if you wish. It'll all work without it (like recording and looking back), but again you do not have to. Personally I think a year should be included in the initial setup.

Some ideas for this system could be a baby monitor or indoor security system to keep it focused on a room.

Also, it does not have night or low light vision. But again they do sell cameras here at amazon to go with the system.

When setting it up, you'll want to do a manual check for new versions and upgrade as especially when you're upgrading you want to have the most recent version. And in the future, manual checks for upgrades tend to work better than auto. But again, set aside time.

Now keep in mind the camera itself is basic. It's not high quality to give details. You can purchase high quality cameras, but they cost money. Do a search for security cameras and see the prices. For all you get here, this is well worth it. Even with the extras you may wish to pay for, it's not a bad deal.

Thus far I'm pretty impressed with this security system. The cost is relatively low, setup is easy and the software offers many options for recording, viewing and notifications. The video signal travels through the electrical wiring in your house so there is no need to run additional cables for the video. You just need a standard electrical outlet. Also, you can't connect the camera to a surge protector due to the filters built into those devices. I haven't had to contact support so I can't comment on that part.

Pros:
- Fairly low cost
- Easy setup with good well written instructions.
- Good software with many options but still easy to use.
- Able to monitor from any computer with an Internet connection.
- Good video quality in good light.

Cons:
- Poor low light performance. Hard to ID even cars that pass under a bright street light by our home.
- Frame frame drops in low light. The normal frame rate I set is 15fps. This seems to drop to about 5fps in low light.

This could be a great system but they need to improve the low light capabilities