Ever wondered what it takes for a product to be selected to be in the presenter's goodie packs at the Oscars? How about numerous awards for design? How about a major 'fun gadget' factor? How about an object so sleek and modern that everyone wants one? Well, that's how Vialta's Beamer 'Video Phone Station' ($499. US/pair) got selected.
Once you lay eyes on the Beamer there's no going back. Loved one not in the same city? Regular phones just don't cut it after you've seen what the Beamer makes possible. With a pair of Beamers and one push of a button you can bridge the gap between continents and feel so much closer.
I sent one Beamer to my parents and kept one at the office. My parents, who live in the country and miss me very much, were thrilled by the fact that now, instead of just hearing my voice, they can also see my image. I can even use the Beamer to show them my new gold sandals or how big my kittens have grown.
Although the Beamer is great for virtual visits, we found that after a while the novelty wore down (only slightly - we still get a kick out of using it, every time) and we ended up using the regular phone more often - especially when there was something specific one of us wanted to discuss. We found that when we used the Beamer we did it mostly to say 'Hi' and to 'see' each other - not to have a deep conversation.
The biggest downfall of the Beamer is that while you are using it, you can't receive any call waiting beeps. What happens is it says "Line 1" in the corner and the image gets more jerky than usual, but you can't click over to answer the other call. The other fault we found was that there is no option to do a three-way call. It would have been great if we could have gotten my brother in on the call too and had a little family reunion!
The picture quality is just okay - in fact, a $50. webcam provides slightly smoother movement and better picture. Basically, it's good enough to see the other person, but movement is choppy and contrast becomes a problem when bright sunlight is thrown into the mix. A great feature is the two-box option. Basically, you can have your image in a little box in the corner - so you know if you have something in your teeth... or if you're in frame.
The Beamer is exceptionally easy to use - and very portable. It weighs next to nothing so if you're so inclined, you can easily take it on vacation with you. Also, it's ideal for talking to grandma or anyone who doesn't have a webcam or computer. The Beamer requires no assembly and you don't even need to get a new phone. Just plug it into any normal phone (...or speaker phone ...or cordless phone) attached to any normal jack and press one button. It's that simple. Really.
For more information on the Beamer video phone station, visit www.Vialta.com
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