Summary I wanted to buy an Axis Communications 2100 Network Camera but found out they are disco'd. After searching PC Connection I found the 4XEM W-2100. I guess this is a new camera they just released but it is comparable to the 2100 by Axis with a few added features.
So far it is working great. I got it up and running fairly easy and got it working online so I can view it from wherever I am. I even figured out how to view snapshots on my cell phone, which I thought that was cool.
Compared to the Axis 2100, I think this camera beats the Axis version because of all the additional features and better quality image. Some of these features included a max resolution of 704 x 480 pixels where the Axis 2100 has 640 x 480, a higher frames per second of 30fps where the Axis camera had 10fps, better light sensitivity, motion detection (which I got working to ftp so I can view on my cell phone), free software that you can run up to 4 cameras (which is great if I ever want to get more, we will see ;)) and its a heck of a lot cheaper than the Axis 2100 - especially with the free software included which Axis doesn't include.
As for the camera itself, it has a great image quality and an easy to use interface. Getting it working online with FTP was even a breeze. Also another good selling point for me was the free software included. It allowed you to use up to 4 cameras.
The only downside of this camera I found is that it has no audio. I guess the Axis 2100 had an add-on you can get but it looked to be a bit expensive.
All-in-all, network cameras are really cool and I would highly suggest the W-2100 by 4XEM. About a week ago I know anything about them and thought they would be really confusing to get running. But after talking to the 4XEM support staff they helped me understand how network cameras work and what features to look for when purchasing them. This site should allow you to review the camera manufacturers.
