Asus XTION PRO LIVE/B/U USB 2.0 RGB and Depth Sensor

Pros: Arrived fast, installation is simple after Ii figured that it does not run on Windows 8 - which is ok, not a big deal.
I am still working with the device, but thus far no problems.

Cons: None thus far.

Pros: Seems like a great product for a programmer making kenect like applications.

Cons: THIS IS NOT A USER WEBCAM.
If you simply select webcam in the newegg selection list and sort by price you will find this product in the top row. BUT THIS IS NOT A WEBCAM FOR USERS.

Other Thoughts: Must read the details (i didn't bother) or you'll be shipping this back. I received a used product as the box was razored and nothing wrapped. Same as the last guy apparently, I was also lazy picking a nice webcam and didn't read the details that THIS IS NOT A WEBCAM.

Pros: - Small
- USB Powered
- Can run 60fps @ 320x240 (vs. only 30fps for Kinect)
- Can easily mod to tripod mount (see other thoughts)
- Tough
- Works better outdoors than Kinect

Cons: - Doesn't work quite as far as Kinect
- Works only with OpenNI, not Kinect SDK (obviously)

Other Thoughts: Excellent device; it's MUCH smaller than the Kinect, and the USB-power makes it MUCH easier to mount and use in interesting places, and keep in a laptop bag. Also, since I use point-cloud data that I subsample anyway, the 60fps is a huge win for better interactivity.

The base has a hexagonal hole that a 1/4-20 hex nut will glue in perfectly to provide a tripod mount (ASUS: DO THIS!)

Neither the Kinect nor the Xtion work in sunlight, but in tests I've found the Xtion works better in open shade.

I have dropped mine several times from 5'+, and it still works fine.

I use both Kinects and Xtions, and the Xtion is my preferred device - but note I use only the depth map and do my own processing of the point cloud, not skeleton tracking - as things stand now, the Kinect SDK does better skeleton tracking than OpenNI. If skeleton tracking is your most important criteria, and you don't care about being locked into MS, go Kinect. For everything else, this is a better choice.

Pros: n/a

Cons: This product has been discontinued at newegg.com.

Other Thoughts: It is unfortunate that this product has been discontinued but is in keeping with Asus' modus operandi. They tend to make a tentative product and just see if the market is worth getting in to.

Pros: It's much smaller and lighter than Kinect, and totally USB powered. We use it with Nuvixa StagePresence to record and hold web meetings, which we run on a Windows laptop. It's a fantastic combination with StagePresence since it makes everything much more mobile.

Also the RGB sensor is more sensitive than Kinect, thus the video quality is better.

Cons: More expensive than Kinect, but worth it.

Pros: Works, comes with software on DVD including an application to demonstrate the video and distance features in real time, comes with API that works in linux too.

Cons: More expensive than kinect

Pros: As before, it's just like a Kinect, but a lot smaller and powered completely by USB!

Also, if you're looking for something with good industrial design and feel this is not the device for you, get a Kinect instead, right now the Xtion is very clearly designed for hackers.

Cons: My previous review (which I can't figure out how to edit) was too hard on the device, it didn't have a stroke, but by a terrible coincidence all the other machines I tried it on had the same library version conflicts which led them to all malfunction in the same way, which led me to conclude it was a hardware problem and exchange it. I was wrong.

The one con I can think of is that the software required to make it work doesn't play as nicely with ROS as you might expect, given how buddy-buddy ROS and OpenNI are.

Other Thoughts: If you get a technicolor snowcrash on the RGB camera this is caused by a conflict with one of the packages of ROS Electric, specifically the package ps-engine (openni-dev can also conflict but the symptoms are different). The fix is pretty simple, just reinstall the sensor bin from the OpenNI website (NOT from the repo as this is likely the older ROS version).

Pros: It's just like a Kinect, but smaller and doesn't require external power. You already knew that, but those two things are so incredibly nice (I'm a roboticist) that bares repeating.

Also, Linux support out of the box (even on the included CD)! We're making progress as a society!

Trivially easy to get working with ROS/PCL.

Cons: The RGB camera crapped out after about a week of light use (bordering on neglect really). Now all I can see is a colorful snow crash with depth information.

Other Thoughts: Newegg RMA was painless, when the new one arrives I'll test it a bit harder to make sure it's ok and if it is there's a good chance I'll come back and amend this review.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Valued Customer,

We apologize for the library version issues you were experiencing with this device. I noticed your latest review and I'm glad you were able to get the issue resolve and thank you for posting the fix as well. Thanks again for updating your review.

Best Regards,

ASUS Customer Support