Logitech WiLife: Big Brother on a Baby Budget

By Andrew Davis on November 3, 2009

At this moment the entire group of people broke into a deep, slow, rhythmic chant of 'L-T! .... L-T! .... L-T!'—over and over again, very slowly, with a long pause between the 'L' and the 'T'—a heavy murmurous sound, somehow curiously savage, while they opened the teal and white box of their new Logitech WiLife Surveillance System.

Now, I don't have $1.5 billion to spend on a brand new cybersecurity center like the NSA. In fact, I don't even have $1,500 to my name. So, how the hell am I supposed to compete with Big Brother?

Logitech.

That's right. The same guys who make your mouse also make a wireless surveillance system that's like Big Brother's little brother. It's no Ring of Steel, but it gets the job done for all us poor saps who don't have the taxpayers subsidizing our spy plans.

If you're on a limited budget and looking for a quality surveillance system for your home or small business, the Logitech Digital Video Security system is the way to go. It's affordable, flexible, and can be set up quicker than you can watch a rerun of Dragnet.

They even make an add-on spy camera hidden inside of an alarm clock that can be used for…well, just don't tell your wife and spoil the surprise, if you know what I'm saying.

The master systems (outdoor, indoor, or spy camera) start at $299.00, and up to five additional cameras can be added. All that is needed is a PC with extra space on your hard drive to record video, a wireless Internet connection, and a few power outlets.

Logitech's system management software is easy to use, and features customizable options for your surveillance system that allows you to control how much hard drive space is dedicated to video storage, to the color of text that is overlaid on your camera views. You can also play back recorded video at a variety of speeds, skipping past all the boring stuff that happens in between the squirrels making animal-love in your front yard.

You can also remotely access your cameras through Logitech's WiLife site. If that's not enough, you can set up email and cell phone alerts when your cameras pick up movement in its field of vision.

You can even view your cameras from your Smart Phone.

The Two Minutes of Hate just turned into the Two Minutes of Frickin' Awesome.

Logitech's WiLife system offers many options and add-ons, making it incredibly flexible to fit your personal surveillance needs. It's like the Arby's five-for-five deal of the surveillance world. And, you're the one behind the camera; not some perverted government spook.

Brass Tacks

Positives:

• Customizable options.The plethora of options gives you complete control in developing a surveillance system that fits both your budget and your needs.
• User Friendly. Logitech's security video software and Web site are easy to use, and optimize your ability to manage your surveillance system.
• Minimal requirements. I'm running the system smoothly on a six year-old IBM R40 laptop I had lying around the house, and the only cord connecting the computer to the surveillance system is a USB cable, allowing you set up your command center almost anywhere.

Negatives:

• Not Mac Friendly. Really? Come on.
• No Outdoor Night Vision. While Logitech offers an indoor night vision accessory, the outdoor camera is not for night surveillance. My suggestion would be installing it next to a motion-sensor light. And, while you're at it, install a motion-sensor machine gun turret for a total home protection package (not sold by Logitech).
• Static Shot. The basic package is much like a WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get). You can't zoom or scan with your cameras unless you purchase the Platinum package.

Concerns:
Logitech promises the outdoor cameras are weatherproof, which can mean a lot of things. Given that I live in Virginia, I'm not exactly in a position to put the outdoor camera through a gamut of "natural element" tests. So, I stuck it in the freezer for a few hours, and not only did it transmit a signal from the freezer, it produced a continuous, streaming image longer than my flashlight lasted (remember, no night vision). Logitech's specs for the outdoor camera say it will function in environments from zero to 110 degrees. So, unless you're Sarah Palin installing these cameras to track Russians invading the treasured Alaskan shores, you should be good to go.

Will these outdoor cameras hold up to the most extreme weather conditions? Probably not, but they're inexpensive enough that you can replace them without too much fuss.

Pleasant Surprise:
The video quality on these cameras far surpasses what I was expecting.

Bottom line:
Whether you are serious about setting up a surveillance system at your home or small business, or just looking to entertain yourself, the Logitech WiLife Digital Video security system is the best bang for your buck.

Bonus:
Read customer stories here. Some are quite entertaining.