Ok - I have a new client who is questioning some of her employees' integrity, and she wants me to see about rigging up some discreet surveillance using cheapie webcams and such. If she ends up seeing things she doesn't like, I think I can convince her to go with a legitimate system complete with a multi-channel DVR and real cameras. Luckily all of their PCs are networked (albeit still Windows 2000), and they do have a server of sorts with a fair amount of available disk space, so that shouldn't be an issue with this "proof of concept" installation. With that said, I haven't done anything like this with standard consumer (i.e. Logitech/Creative) cameras and wanted to see if anyone here has any recommendations for both software and cameras.

My suggestion is: make sure the employee is aware of the cameras in the store.

Neither have I, but I've assisted with a few DVR installations. I'd say for a proof of concept anything should suffice as long as it shows what she wants to see.

Doesn't work, really. For a couple of my clients I have DVR's in 22 locations. The employees know the cameras are there, but they forget very quickly. The whole thing about having cameras is to monitor them and let the employees know when you see something wrong.

I told her if all she wanted was a deterrent, some cameras hanging from the ceiling with cabling going up into the ceiling would be an inexpensive approach. However, since much of their business is conducted outside of the office, she is more concerned with detection and punishment (as appropriate) than just prevention.

I know many logitech quickcams have motion sensors, and there also commercial programs that allow you to record only when motion is detected.