Polycom Communicator C100S - USB VoIP desktop hands-free

9 out of 10 - Spectacular
Fantastic - just like my polycom at work
I was tired of using a headset, especially when we wanted to have a webcam session with our parents to ...
I was tired of using a headset, especially when we wanted to have a webcam session with our parents to show them their grandchildren. Having used Polycom speakerphones at work 6 hours a day I thought I would see if they had a device for the home user. And sure enough they do and it only cost around $100!

The Polycom Communicator is packaged in a plastic mould within a box. Thankfully the plastic wasn't heatsealed around the edge like most PC accessories these days, so within seconds it was in my hot little hands. I was surprised how light it felt for a solid built device. Size wise it was just smaller than my hand and about 3/4 of inch thick.

Accompanying the device was a nicely made wallet to store it in while travelling, the customary manual and setup CD, and a voucher for 30mins of Skypeout call time (which I thought was cool at the time but later discovered this was 30mins of cheap rates and represented about 54c of Skype credit. Oh well, it was the thought that counted.

The Communicator has five buttons: one for starting Skype, two for volume, one for calling/hanging up and one for mute. The buttons are surrounded by a ring that glows when you are making or receiving a call. It has a headset jack on the side for private calls. At the back is a flap which, when opened reveals a USB cable which is neatly stowed. The flap itself serves as a prop-up stand as you can see in the picture. Being USB powered is great because it means no unnecessary power cords and no need for a power socket.

Installing the software proved a little more difficult than I anticipated. The setup CD would just not work and kept coming up with a message that it couldn't find a file which as it happened was on the CD, just in a different folder. I copied all the files from all the folders into one folder on my hard drive and ran it from there and it worked no problem. Setup was very painless and quick from thereon.

Having got it all setup I plugged it in, fired up Skype (which recognized the device automatically), did a test call with no hassle, and then called my mother. The call was crystal clear with no echo or feedback. My mother said it was very clear and noise free at her end too. As we talked for 20mins it became hard to believe that this little device was even there. It was like talking to her in the same room.

All in all I am really happy with this device and think it is great value for money. My only complaints are the setup CD and the fact it is only compatible with Skype (I am a big yahoo messenger user too), but these are small niggles in an otherwise excellent product. Congratulations Polycom. Read more
by rjspalding (see profile) - February 10, 2007