Yep, it is a real microscope, albeit low strength. 60-250X magnification. Too low to see bacteria, but great for bugs. You adjust the magnification by moving it closer to your subject. Focusing is with a twisting motion. It has an adjustable light, too. It takes 1600x1200 snapshots and 640x480 videos. I plugged it into my USB port and set it up in about 45 seconds.
It is made by Plugable, and works on Mac or Windows computers. It has been really fun so far! Very tiny and compact.
I have been viewing spider mites and other insects, and have been looking for water bears (tardigrades) in the moss growing on the north side of my greenhouse foundation, but haven't found any yet. The first one I find, I am naming him Bob!
I should mention that for people with poor vision, and no binocular vision, like myself, being able to see the magnified object on a big computer screen instead of trying to look through an eyepiece is a HUGE advantage!
Carolyn