Microsoft’s Lifecam NX 3000 is designed for use with Windows Messenger and skinny notebooks – skinny because the webcam attaches to the top of the screen and will work on nothing thicker than about 2cm.

It is a 1.3megapixel webcam that, in addition to video, takes impressively clear still shots. The camera was easy to set up: we installed the software, signed in to Windows Messenger and plugged it into a spare USB port. Once installed the camera uses its own dashboard, which has three buttons for snapping photos and recording audio or video clips.

Along the bottom of the window are shown the most recent photos and video or audio clips. On the top of the camera is a call button to quickly 'speed dial' people and start a video call. The lens swivels up and down, should you need to move the notebook's screen.

Video from the camera was very clear and we were impressed with the noise-cancelling feature, which was particularly effective at getting rid of extraneous sound. For £30 the NX 3000 does its job well and has some clever extras.

Also consider the Creative Live Cam Optia AF webcam.