The Quickcam 3000 uses the kernel module pwc.

The built-in microphone is enabled by selecting in the kernel USB Audio support.

Additionally there is setpwc user space package for it.

Obviously the right driver needs to be found lsusb shows its id 0c45:6028 and this gives

c45:6028 Microdia Typhoon Easycam USB 330K (older)

to work the kernel needs to be compiled having the drivers gspca_sonixb and also the main driver gspca_main.

Test it with (put the camera into light, otherwise you might debug for no reason):

mplayer tv:// -tv driver=v4l2:device=/dev/video0

mplayer tv:// -tv driver=v4l2:width=352:height=288:device=/dev/video0

and mplayer can take even screen-shots pressing key s with

mplayer tv:// -tv driver=v4l2:width=352:height=288:device=/dev/video0 -vf screenshot

cheese a gui tool from gnome (has a lot of dependency with gnome libraries)

camorama has not a lot of dependencies and does what a simple user desires. Unfortunately if more than one cam is present, the gui does not allow to select the cam. However it is possible via command line camorama -d /dev/video1

xawtv -c /dev/video0 is the classic video application but more dedicated for TV cards.

To avoid problems, make sure the web cam is directly connected to the PC and not via a hub.

The electronics of standard web cams would support usually IR and would therefore suitable to view and record pictures in the dark. For such purposes IR would usually be emitted by e.g. IR LED's. However the cameras have a IR filter that blocks IR and therefore the cameras can not be used in dark environment. If you are lucky the lenses are not coated and your camera has an IR filter that can be removed. An other problem is that the focus for IR is different than from visible light, so the position of the lenses need to be adjusted.