Webcam options

[hkriffraff]

Are there any OSX compatible webcams, cheaper than the iSight but still of decent quality?

Also, what is the best way to have a video chat with non iChat users?

 

[gultin]

Logitech webcam for Mac OS X

I too am searching for a USB webcam for Mac OS X that would work right out of the box without taking recourse to 3rd party drivers. There is atleast one Logitech webcam that officially works with Mac OS X.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2204,CONTENTID=7105

I cannot believe it is this hard to find a good USB webcam to work with Mac. Reminds me of the 90s and the age of Windows 95 , when nothing worked. I wish somebody would create a web page that clearly lists USB webcams that work with Mac OS X, right out of the box. I'm sick of third parties. Any Admins can help out here?

 

[gultin]

Apartheid!

I dont know what else to call this, but some sort of technical apartheid! I went to the local Bestbuy and Walmart and found to my horror that they do not sell a single USB web camera that is Mac compatible! What is this? Am I living in some kind of stone age here? Somebody wake me up. This is 2006 for heaven's sake! Why has the world put on these horrible 'Windows blinkers'? Do they not see that there exists life outside Windows; that there are living, breathing entities who do not use windows but like to communicate their faces with their loved ones far away?

Why must a Mac user be forced to fleece himself of $$$ to buy an iSight? Why do we have so few options when it comes to webcams? Why should we be dependent on third parties for webcam drivers? For all the talk of plug and play....!! Aaahh, how I long for the day the tables are turned over on windows users. The day when Macs with Intel processors occupy a 95% market share. Will it ever come in my lifetime? I can only hope....

Meanwhile there is still some hope... I found a few other webcams that are 'officially' Mac compatible.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2204,CONTENTID=5042

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,crid=2204,contentid=5040,detail=2

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2204,CONTENTID=7172

 

[Ugg]

Why must a Mac user be forced to fleece himself of $$$ to buy an iSight? Why do we have so few options when it comes to webcams? Why should we be dependent on third parties for webcam drivers? For all the talk of plug and play....!!

The iSight is pretty incredible as far as quality is concerned. I don't think any other cam comes close. I guess it depends upon your needs but I find the iSight to be perfect for my needs. Yes, it's pricey, but IMO well worth it.

 

[gultin]

The iSight is pretty incredible as far as quality is concerned. I don't think any other cam comes close. I guess it depends upon your needs but I find the iSight to be perfect for my needs. Yes, it's pricey, but IMO well worth it.

I understand the iSight is awesome. What I am worried about is the pathetically limited number of choices that Mac users have when it comes to webcams. Choices mean freedom and who wouldn't want that?

Anyway, a good way to do video conferencing with PC users appears to be SightSpeed:

www.sightspeed.com

I hope Apple makes a PC version of iChat. Let the goodies be spread all over.... Also, iSight now appears to be standard on new Macs and thats a good thing!

A question: Does anybody know if the inbuilt iSight in the new Macs has all the features/quality of the original iSight cam? I'm just curious coz the inbuilt iSight looks so tiny!

 

[Josh396]

I hope Apple makes a PC version of iChat. Let the goodies be spread all over.... Also, iSight now appears to be standard on new Macs and thats a good thing!

A question: Does anybody know if the inbuilt iSight in the new Macs has all the features/quality of the original iSight cam? I'm just curious coz the inbuilt iSight looks so tiny!

I would also love to see iChat for the PC just to make everything easier. As for the built in iSight question it supposedly has twice the resolution of the previous iSights but to me it appears to be a much lower quality picture. I know I'm not the only one that thinks so either so hopefully Apple will be able to get better quality cameras in there sometime.

 

[mkrishnan]

The iSight is pretty incredible as far as quality is concerned. I don't think any other cam comes close. I guess it depends upon your needs but I find the iSight to be perfect for my needs. Yes, it's pricey, but IMO well worth it.

The autofocusing alone is a very nice touch. It's a bit overpriced, but it is very nice.

 

[jsw]

iChatUSBCam works with most USB cams, including, but not limited to, the Logitech Orbit - a very cool webcam.