So, from a few years ago I have a couple of Logitech Webcams. I’d report the model number but they leave that off the device. On a little tag on the cord one says M/N V-U0016 and the other one says M/N-U0023. Embossed into the body of the webcams – which look identical – it says they support a microphone, auto focus and 720p. They are missing a shutter to block the camera which all new models have, but a piece of black tape solves that problem if you care. These webcams are perfectly great for Discord or Zoom calls. Here’s one web cam taking a portrait of the other in Discord, running on Linux Mint 22.2.
You might argue that it is not sharp but for a discord or zoom call its just great. I’ll not show my face here, but it was perfectly reasonable for 720p. Sure the new ones are 1080 or 4k, but who cares? If you really need that, then you don’t care about saving this old webcam.
A New Webcam?
You can buy a new one for $40 – $200 that is supported on Microsoft Windows 11. Or you could switch to Linux and leave Microsoft behind.
I installed Discord on Linux Mint a few days ago and tested discord with audio with a friend. It was no problem to install using the Software Manager, which is sort of like the Linux Store – like the Apple Store, or the Microsoft Store. Only everything in the Linux Store is completely free.
Today I plugged in the older webcams, fired up Discord and the cameras work just fine. No requirement to install additional drivers or visit the Logitech site or give them your email or anything. It just works. I’m not sure whether the driver was installed along with Discord or whether it’s built into the Linux system. Works great. As you can see, one camera takes a picture of another.
Microsoft and Logitech Conspired to Obsolete this Camera
Looks like Microsoft and Logitech conspired to make this camera obsolete on Windows 11. As we see it works perfectly well on Linux. The camera is supported on Linux using the UVC – USB Video Camera- Protocol standard.
The reason that I say Microsoft and Logitech conspired to remove support is that the UVC protocol is a USB Standard Protocol. So Microsoft must have done something to keep that protocol from working, either not supporting it at all, or see that this camera was present and denying to support that protocol. And then Logitech must have intentionally not upgraded their driver, which I’m pretty sure is trivial since lots of Windows 10 devices work. They must have added code to check for Windows 11 and stopped it from working on Windows 11. Apparently Logitech is so greedy that they think they can make you pay at least another $40 and maybe as much as $200 for a new webcam while this one goes in the landfill.
I would rather use these webcams than have them go to a landfill.
:ww
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