(Just another tip)
I bought a small "USB Microscope", Manufacturer "Shenzhen".
Turned out to be useful 
It was very easy to get going in Mandriva Linux, full functionality.
Basically just plug it in and the Video for Linux was automatically working.
Installed the program luvcview to get live video with exposure control
etc, snapshot images and video recording.
See http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?t=101155
(Weird that manufacturers often forget to mention Linux compatibility)
"Morgan Leijström" <temp@tribun.eu> wrote in message
news:gk2kpj$bm8$1@cheetah.cadsoft.de...
(Just another tip)
I bought a small "USB Microscope", Manufacturer "Shenzhen".
Turned out to be useful
I've been using one of these for about 10 months under windows xp on my
laptop.
As I get a (little bit) older, I've tended to "long sight", as do most
people. This has made working on anything smaller than 0805/SOT23 etc. quite
tricky, and reading the markings on som SMDs is almost impossible.
This is a very good device - loads and loads of them are available
rebranded - I bought mine on eBay for a lot less than you paid - see auction
280299227851 for an example. The inbuilt white LED light ring is very good,
but can lead to a bit of glare if directed at a perpendicular surface...
best to use it at a slight angle.
Only complaint is that the light stand and relatively stiff USB cable mean
that its very easy to knock the camera off focus etc. and that the depth of
field is not great.
In terms of value for money, portability etc. (lives in my laptop bag) I'll
give it 10/10.
Nick
Nick de Smith wrote:
This is a very good device - loads and loads of them are available
rebranded - I bought mine on eBay for a lot less than you paid - see auction
280299227851 for an example.
About the same i paid at Tradera 
The inbuilt white LED light ring is very good,
but can lead to a bit of glare if directed at a perpendicular surface...
best to use it at a slight angle.
Only complaint is that the light stand and relatively stiff USB cable mean
that its very easy to knock the camera off focus etc. and that the depth of
field is not great.
Yes to all that.
I ponder to dismantle the front half to get it less clumsy, and attach
it to a better stand.
Sidenote: mine was not manufactured properly, it often lost connection
to the imager until i opened it and connected the shield properly, it
was occasionally contacting wrong points when manouvering the camera!
