I’m a full-time telecommuter. Since I work out my home office nearly 100 percent of the time, I spend many hours on the phone. Adding video to some of those calls would make them more interesting (and make it less likely that I might lose interest in the conversation and start surfing the ‘Net!) Being able to see who you’re talking to just makes the experience more immediate, more “real” in a way.

My MacBook Pro has a built-in Webcam, but like most of those, the quality is just OK. I’ve used it for work a few times, but would like something better.

Meet something better. The Logitech QuickCam Orbit Webcam does a lot more than my built-in Webcam, and does it stylishly as well. I like the shiny black shell, with the transparent top. OK, style isn’t ordinarily a big deal for me (ask my wife or kids, for instance, how stylishly I dress most days). But it is way cool looking, and more importantly, has terrific functionality (always more of a consideration for a true gadget geek.)

One of the Orbit’s most impressive capabilities is that it follows the speaker automatically. That’s right — it tracks you as you move around (assuming you want it to; you can turn off those abilities if you want). Both left and right, up and down: no repositioning needed. It also includes a 9-inch stand, which would raise the camera to about eye level. Most Webcams sat at or near the top of the monitor, giving that “looking down on you” feeling.

Reviews indicate that the video quality is outstanding; it has a 2.0 megapixel lens, so the images should be sharp. It also automatically compensates for low-light conditions, making the picture brighter when it needs to be.

The audio is reportedly quite good as well; a problem with earlier Orbit models was an echo. That problem has been fixed, users report.

One fun software feature is the ability to create cartoon “avatars”, or characters that become an online identity of yours. Move your head, and the avatar mimics your move; smile and your avatar smiles. Neat!

The Orbit is one of the more expensive Webcams on the market, but this is a case of getting what you pay for. For basic needs, a basic Webcam will work. If you do a lot of videoconferencing, or want to upgrade the quality of your YouTube videos, keep this one in mind.