Webcam?

Is it possible to replace the 0.3 megapixel webcam with something better? Maybe something with more pixels from other laptops?

 

I think you could but it would have to bee roughly the same size and power

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_Aspire_One

There are some model of AAO with 1.3 megapixel webcam instead of 0.3?

 

bump.

 

***UPDATED*** 1.3MP Webcam?

The answer is YES!!! you CAN upgrade the .3MP webcam on your unit to a 1.3MP!!! I have done it, and you require a "Camellia" webcam from another Acer full sized laptop. Our AA1 cameras are called "Rose" and are model # CN0316-M608-0V01 btw. The model number of the board, which is directly replaceable by you without much fuss in 15 minutes is called "Camellia" CN0314-0V03. The Camellia board can be bought from here or here or the cheapest i have seen is here.

*****CONFIRMED UPGRADEABLE MODELS ARE: A110L, A110X, A150L, A150X 120GB, ZG5, D150******

TO INSTALL:
1. Remove the bezel on your display (no need to take the whole thing apart!)
2. remove the 2 screws holding in Rose, unplug the USB cable from the left of the camera board and remove the board.
3. remove the top piece of the black "L" on the right side that would hold the board in place. DO NOT REMOVE THE RIGHT SIDE!!!
4. plug in Camellia and position it properly to the right and then with a bit of work, make sure to gently lift the bottom of the board to fit it in place. it may be a bit tough, but BE GENTLE, it will snap into place.
5. GENTLY remove the triangle plastic cover from the bezel and widen the hole underneath as it was form-fit for the .3MP which was a smaller lens (DUH!). just open it up a millimeter around or so until the camera fits through it. no need to be nice and fancy, the plastic cover hides any problems you had.
6. clean screen and reassemble bezel etc.
7. power up your unit, it will detect a USB Camera. Here is the driver

Voila!!! one upgraded webcam to 1.3 MP!!!!

Enjoy!!!

Changelog:
1st edit= added where to buy the Camellia unit
2nd edit= added Suyin driver dowload link
3rd edit= reworded to show a more smooth path for the upgrade and the parts information
4th edit= added compatible models list
5th+6th edits= updated list of compatible models based on service manuals and online information
7th edit= added changelog

 

Where can you buy that "Camellia" webcam?

 

Post updated as requested. My bad!! :lol:

 

Wow.. thats pretty sweet. i like how that guy just swooped in and pwned the question that ive been searching for like a month in a half-page article :lol:

Way props! :mrgreen:

 

Wow, that's sweet. Is this easy to do? I'm having my RAM put in so shall I give the guy this camera to put in too? Will it void warranty? Thanks!

 

YA pretty much opening any part of the netbook will void the warranty, but if you bought it at Walmart or something you can still return it just dont tell them. Believe me i know... i used to work there

But ya if you want to you can tell the guy to install it as well... But id just do it myself if I were u :geek:

 

Thanks for the fast reply.
The online retailer that I bought my One from said that adding RAM won't void the warranty.
When asked about adding RAM and another wifi card (when I was considering a switch to OS X):-

 

The803: Yes, it is extremely easy to do, and very cheap too. i did mine with the unit running, if that gives you some idea of the ease of this upgrade

arexxk: thanks for the props man, this was something i have been meaning to do for awhile, but my wife kept putting me onto other chores. i finally did it behind her back while feeding the baby LOL!!!

word of note on mini-pcie WiFi cards, the intel 3945 cards will crash/fail to POST the AA1, better to switch to a broadcom 4321 or 4328 unit for wireless N upgrade.

 

yea! i upgraded to the Broadcom Wireless N Apple Airport card, it's a beast! :lol:

 

Can I assume that this camera is also compatible?

http://www.pchub.com/uph/laptop/65-45143-11146/Acer-Aspire-One-AOA150-Bw-Sub-Various-Board.html

 

Not all 3945's will crash/fail to post. My 3945abg works fine in my AA1 in XP , ubuntu and Moblin. The wifi indicator light and switch even works properly in ubuntu and XP.

 

OK, so I got the 1.3mp webcam, I installed it, but on my linpus system, it still seems to be recognized as a 0.3mp webcam. Is there a linux driver that I need or something?

 

If you are using the camera that your link above goes to, that camera is a 0.3 MP.
The same as the netbook came with. You need to get a "Camellia" 1.3 MP as repherb mentioned on page 1.
I have done this and the quality was worth the $30 shipped that it cost.

 

No, it's not the one from my link above, I found a Camellia camera, it says so right on it. But I still only get 0.3MP. I am running linpus - is there a driver that I need to update somehow? I also run ubuntu, and same problem.