Due to totally unecessary security stupidity, I’m going to be working somwhere that bans all cameras. Even crappy littlecams on laptops. But all modern laptops seem to have them. Is there anyone out there that still makes a laptop without a camera.
Dell Vostro 1510?
Look at “corporate” or “enterprise” models. There’s no camera on my Dell Latitude, and I’d like to think that HP, Toshiba and whoever else is left in this market also have camera-free options.
Thinkpad enterprise model “ThinkPad W701 laptop” with discrete graphics has a “no camera” option. Pricey unit though.
I have an HP Compaq 6510b from a couple years ago; no webcam.
My Alienware does not have a webcam. Im pretty sure you can still get them with out one.
They can be a little pricey though.
My Lenovo, which was already last years model when I bought it a year ago from a computer fair, doesn’t have a webcam. You shouldn’t have to pay more for one without a webcam, you just have to buy a really, really old model. I don’t remember the model number for mine off hand 'tho. It was one of the earliest dual-core laptops – but the reviews caution, the dual core doesn’t really improve the processing, I’m guessing the architecture wasn’t updated to support it.
The last several times I’ve customized a computer online, there was an option to NOT have a camera, although it is included by default.
I bought an HP laptop 18 months ago without one, but I don’t know if their current models all include them or not.
Why not cover the lens with paint or nail polish?
Pick a color that match the case. One dab of black nail polish eliminates the problem.
Because a dab of black nail polish can easily be removed thus defeating the purpose of not allowing cameras.
my dell inspiron 1520 has no web cam
There are loads of them! You’re in the UK, aren’t you? Look on somewhere like ebuyer - most of the laptops don’t have webcams. Netbooks do, but there are even a few exceptions there.
Same here. Mine is a T61 ThinkPad.
my Dell Latitude D520 has no web cam either.
Any PC I own will not have a web cam.
Removing the camera shouldn’t be difficult. It’s probably a press fit. Should be able to pry it out carefully. If nothing else, a screwdriver through the lens will blind it.
There was something in the news a few months ago about a school incident. Web cams were activated on laptops given to students. The guy was caught with pictures of them in their dorm rooms.
There’s no way in hell I’ll allow a web cam on my pc. I’ve read Orwell too many times.
Amusing anecdote about laptop webcams:
At the company I work for, all of us on the project are issued laptops. A manager came over to me and asked me if I knew if we had any webcams. I gave a serious emotional shock to the manager when I told them that all of our laptops had webcams built in.
Why not? If your machine happens to have one, nobody can force you to use it - and they’re add no significant weight, inconvenience or cost to the machine?
What I mean is… You appear to be expressing a strenuous objection here - I’m curious as to your rationale.
Web cams are already used by some security programs to retrieve stolen laptops.
http://www.hardwareguru.com/news/stolen-laptop-leads-victim-to-thieves-by-webcam/
That may seem like a good thing. But eventually the hacker community will find ways to activate the camera remotely too.
this CNET article raises several concerns. It’s worth reading.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10457737-238.html
What if they’re remotely activated, like in that high school incident? What if your mom keeps bugging you to turn it on – “Why won’t you turn it on? What are you hiding?”
Then put a piece of tape over it, if you’re paranoid, and at least you have a webcam you can use when you need it.