There's nothing inherently exciting about webcams, but the Creative Live! Cam Optia AF is a helluva lot of fun. Credit its versatile and entertaining software bundle, which lets you record time-lapse video, adorn your face with elf ears, and even set up a home security system. Credit, too, the Live! Cam Web portal (www.mylivecam.com), where you can download extra goodies to help you get even more mileage from the camera. The image quality doesn't match that of the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, but the versatile design of the Optia AF and its well-rounded software bundle give it a major leg up on the similarly priced Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000.