Webcam

[kerpow]

I'd love to buy an iSight but as all the people that I'd want to chat use PC's its essentially useless. I've also used MSN for several years and don't realy want to switch to AIM.

What are my options for webcams then? Anything work reliably with all the chat providers, I'd rather buy one that worked with all of them rather than being stuck with AIM.

 

[DarkNetworks]

I'd love to buy an iSight but as all the people that I'd want to chat use PC's its essentially useless. I've also used MSN for several years and don't realy want to switch to AIM.

What are my options for webcams then? Anything work reliably with all the chat providers, I'd rather buy one that worked with all of them rather than being stuck with AIM.

Well not to say anything but for webcams to work with MSN on the mac is not "EASY"...well i don't know...it's pretty much a pain...first is the program you're gonna use...iChat (i've tried it but it barely works for me) and aMSN (i don't know but i don't seem to get how to use it nor can i find the tab webcam)..plus if you don't get iSight, u need some other third party applications in order for ur USB webcam or whatsoever webcam u buy in order to use it with iChat...second thing is to get a webcam...for it to work with a Mac, i'm sure it will not be as low as the ones that will work with Windows...there are of course but i don't know any of it...

 

[Tommyg117]

I have had this same problem. I really wanted to get an isight but I tried using my roomates to talk to my girlfriend at home (who has a PC, not for long!) and it just didn't work at all. Does anybody know why apple is not expanding the isight to be compatible with PC's? Look what happened with the iPod when they moved it over to a PC as well, I think that the iSight could revolutionize the quality of video conversations just like the iPod revolutionized the world of digital audio players.

 

[kerpow]

I've just had a look at the Messenger for Mac newsgroup on Microsoft's website and it doesn't make pretty reading.

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.mac.messenger?start=30

If I'm in the Apple store anytime soon I'll ask one of the techie guys but I think I might save myself a lot of headaches and ditch the whole idea completely.

This is the first time I've felt like I've lost something by using a Mac.

 

[Lazyhound]

Mercury supports the iSight.

EDIT:

Does anybody know why apple is not expanding the isight to be compatible with PC's? Look what happened with the iPod when they moved it over to a PC as well, I think that the iSight could revolutionize the quality of video conversations just like the iPod revolutionized the world of digital audio players.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Abstract]

Well not to say anything but for webcams to work with MSN on the mac is not "EASY"...well i don't know...it's pretty much a pain...first is the program you're gonna use...iChat (i've tried it but it barely works for me) and aMSN (i don't know but i don't seem to get how to use it nor can i find the tab webcam)..plus if you don't get iSight, u need some other third party applications in order for ur USB webcam or whatsoever webcam u buy in order to use it with iChat...second thing is to get a webcam...for it to work with a Mac, i'm sure it will not be as low as the ones that will work with Windows...there are of course but i don't know any of it...

What?

Step 1: Get any Mac-compatible Mac webcam, USB or otherwise. A Macally Icecam works perfectly. If you don't know if it's Mac compatible, or don't think it is, you can get drivers for all sorts of webcams (Macam has them for free, and there's another company that offers them for $20, but they have a list of webcams that they can get to work with your Mac)

Step 2: Download aMSN or Mercury IM.

Step 3: Use it.

@Kerpow: You have a choice of AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and MSN for video webchat. No such luck with ICQ. I don't see much of a problem.

 

[DarkNetworks]

A Macally Icecam works perfectly.

Step 2: Download aMSN or Mercury IM.

Step 3: Use it.

I've heard about that several times in MacRumors...i know that works...
Step 3...how to use webcam feature in aMSN may i ask?

 

[jsw]

I'm a bit confused here... my iSight works with all video apps on my Mac as well as when chatting with PC users. So... I don't see the problem. Does MSN not work with the iSight?

If you get a USB webcam, then you can also get iChatUSBCam, which works great with my Logitech Pro.

 

[kerpow]

Abstract & jsw, thanks. I've obviosuly had misinformation. The MSN for Mac Newsgroup said it didn't even support video.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...3fbfe02a43a/583a59eef6fbdca8#583a59eef6fbdca8

If Mercury works with iSight and MSN protocols I'll hand my cash over to Apple rather than some no-name webcam amateur.

With iSight you can record staright into iMovie then? Wasn't aware of that.

H264 is the way to go as well.

Cheers

 

[superted666]

You can connect ichat to msn using the jabber support provided in tiger ichatav 3x

Cant confirm if webcam works this way though... anyone?

 

[Beligerent]

I completely and totally agree with the people frustrated by Mac to PC video chatting. People who use PC's can use a $50 webcam and have video chats with all their friends. Mac users can spend $150 on an iSight and chat with Mac users or spend all kinds of time messing with port forwarding and firewalls and all that junk to MAYBE get video to show up on a friends PC. I cant beleive in 2005 this isnt cleaned up yet. One of the things I hate about being a Mac user is when PC friends point this out.

 

[jsw]

I completely and totally agree with the people frustrated by Mac to PC video chatting. People who use PC's can use a $50 webcam and have video chats with all their friends. Mac users can spend $150 on an iSight and chat with Mac users or spend all kinds of time messing with port forwarding and firewalls and all that junk to MAYBE get video to show up on a friends PC. I cant beleive in 2005 this isnt cleaned up yet. One of the things I hate about being a Mac user is when PC friends point this out.

Ummm... Mac users pay a $10 "penalty" to use iChatUSBCam (or less if the alternatives are cheaper) but can then use the same crappy webcams PC users can use - which, BTW, typically don't have mics (one of the iSight's strongest features is the noise-cancelling mic). And I had no problems getting iChat to work with my brother's PC. And, FWIW, H.264-based Mac-to-Mac iChat sessions are vastly better than those to which PC users have access.

 

[Abstract]

@jsw: That iChatUSB doesn't allow Mac users to use any webcam that can be used on a PC. Any camera used on a Mac must be compatible with Mac OSX. How can the webcam work without the proper driver for it?

You have had no problems getting iChat to work with your brother's PC because he uses AIM. Not all of us use AIM, especially non-Americans who don't care at all about AIM.

Abstract & jsw, thanks. I've obviosuly had misinformation. The MSN for Mac Newsgroup said it didn't even support video.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...3fbfe02a43a/583a59eef6fbdca8#583a59eef6fbdca8

I don't think you're reading correctly. MSN doesn't support video. aMSN does.

Use Mercury if you're desperate.

Beligerent: Mac users can spend $150 on an iSight and chat with Mac users or spend all kinds of time messing with port forwarding and firewalls and all that junk to MAYBE get video to show up on a friends PC. I cant beleive in 2005 this isnt cleaned up yet. One of the things I hate about being a Mac user is when PC friends point this out.

Reread my 1st post.


If you want proper drivers for you webcam, either go to Macam because they're free, or go to IOXperts which have more drivers than Macam, although not free.

And in case you can't use the webpage, here's the list of webcams that work

You can connect ichat to msn using the jabber support provided in tiger ichatav 3x

Cant confirm if webcam works this way though... anyone?

Re-read my 1st post: AIM, MSN, Yahoo Messenger. That's all.

 

[Abstract]

I've heard about that several times in MacRumors...i know that works...
Step 3...how to use webcam feature in aMSN may i ask?

Just plug it in and click on the webcam button. If that button isn't there, I guess you can turn webcam chat on in the Preferences.

You need a Mac compatible webcam though. Not just any camera will work.

And I already recommended the Macally IceCam, which is obviously guaranteed to work. It's also relatively cheap, too.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I'm a bit confused here... my iSight works with all video apps on my Mac as well as when chatting with PC users. So... I don't see the problem. Does MSN not work with the iSight?

If you get a USB webcam, then you can also get iChatUSBCam, which works great with my Logitech Pro.

Wich Logitech Pro model are you using? Does it really matters there is no mention to MacosX compatibility on the box?

 

[dylomel]

is there any cheapers options for webcam other than isight? thanks

 

[redeye be]

is there any cheapers options for webcam other than isight? thanks

i do now...

 

[KC Dragonfly]

Just got an iSight. And yes, I went through the same headaches as most people here. From mac to mac it's "wonderful". But using it with my brother who lives overseas, and is using a pc, it was a pain.
FINALY I found """" iVisit""" !!!
works between pc + mac !! Video and audio. To get a better resolution you would have to get a "plus" account. 49 dollar anualy. It even worked from my 6000 dsl speedy line to a dial-up slow line.
What I prefer using iChat is the "SIZE" of the picture. The whole sreen if I'd want. That feature does not excist on iVisit. But again, it works!!

PS: MSN ain't working with macs!

http://www.ivisit.com