Not Always On

I find it hard to believe that the iSight is worth $150. Do you realize that that is about five times the cost of your average webcam?

Check out the link above. The IceCam doesn't include a mic, but I don't need one -- my PowerBook has one!

Hi Marc,
I know! I found it hard to believe too until I started using one. But I tell you the quality really is outstanding and the combined value of the iSight and iChat is way more than $150. I'm hooked (clearly!).

Isight's firewire connection is BUGGY on OSX. It simply stops working and then you have to reinstall- hey is MAC trying to be microsoft now with crappy software?

Hey it works on my Mac, both of them, with no problem. Maybe you need the latest version of 10.3.

I have had problems with feedback. The sound is great for about a minute and then gets very choppy cutting out almost completely. Have you experienced the same problem? I would love to hear any solutions you might have.

The audio and the video compete with each other and with any other applications you may have open that are using the Internet - such as a browser. In addition to closing open applications that may be using Interent bandwidth, the Apple iSight Help menu offers this suggestion:

You can control how much bandwidth your video chat uses and adjust the speed at which your video chat is transmitting. This might be helpful if you want to share your Internet connection with another application, such as a web browser, or with other people on your network.

Choose iChat > Preferences, click Video, and choose a speed from the Bandwidth Limit pop-up menu.

Apple is repeating the same mistake again and again. Back in the 80' they lost the PC markent to inferior windows because they didn't reduce the prices on their computers. Now they will loose the iPod market because the "others" are selling similar products for half the price. The same with webcams - I will not buy a $150 product that fits a mac when similar products are sold for $40. Instead of enforcing the other manufacturers to reduce the Mac related products by lowering their own product's prices - Apple letting them gain on the expenses of their few loyal customers. Note that LogiTech's most expensive products are for Mac while the competitive ones are for PC users. Finally, Macally came out with the IceCam, a $40 tiny and reasonably good webcam. I am sure that many Mac users will finally be able to afford the concept of communicating thought the web. Apple watch out - thanks Macally.

"Now they will loose the iPod market because the "others" are selling similar products for half the price."

Funny... it doesnt seem like they are losing out on the iPod market at all. Seems like about 1 in 10 had them at the gym this time last year and about 7 in 10 do now. I'd say that iPod ownership is reaching critical mass - compared to rather blah says of other HD based MP3 players it's taking off with near 50% of the market.

As for webcams, while you can get cheaper ones out there none I have seen have matched the quality of "wow-factor" of the iSight. Nobody I've talked to has been a true believer until I've video chatted with them or they've seen me video chat with another iSight user. Simply amazing. A lot of my friends are graduating college and moving to various parts of the US and abroad. Using our iSights is such a better experenice than a cell phone or AIM conversation well worth the cash.

And, I feel like it's only gettign better. Once MacOS X has H.264 built in, you'll get an even better vidoe and audio feed.

I think "similar" was the key word. Other products might be similar, but none can duplicate the beauty or simplicity and quality of the isight product. People use PC and other products, people who use mac products actually LOVE their products. I love my isight cam, and use it to communicate with my wife who lives quite far away during the school year. We have tried other products and none equal the quality of the isight product.

I would think the same goes with the ipod. I got an ipod for Christmas and it is the best gift I have ever gotten. I have had other mp3 players, but I don't think I would ever say I have had a relationship with one the way I have with my ipod.

buy a mac and you never go back.
gb

Trek, you're certainly right about similar versus better, but there is a fine line apple walks between better and not much more expensive, and better but affordable.

I have a small business selling PCs, more a hobby really. I recently sold 3 mini PCs. (that market is about to boom) and when I wanted one for my wife, I compared the price of an iMac to a good quality one I put together. The mac cost more, but not much more -- we ordered an apple. Similarly, we got an iPod rather than a creative HD player.

In both these cases the apple was the more expensive option, but it was not much more expensive. Had I been looking for a more powerful computer (beyond an iMac) there is no way a mac competes price/performance wise with a good quality athlon 64 based system. Yes, you can argue the athlon won't be quite as integrated, or quite as pretty. That's all true, and if it was 10-25% cheaper it would be a valid point. But at half the price you have to have some damn good reason to justify a G5 powermac...

Returning to the iChat. A decent quality webcam is $75. An iChat is $150. Perhaps the iChat is worth it? Perhaps it is a rip-off, barely better than the $75 version. Having not played with it I don't know. But I really think apple should be trying harder to hit that 30% above the competition instead of 100% above.

I agree with most of everybody's comments on the iSight, but I'd like to add that it's not really a toy. If you're trying to decide between a new game for your XBox or a webcam, by all means, get something inexpensive. If it's for something important like staying in touch with a loved one, for professional use, or even if you don't want a cheap-looking plastic gadget staring at you or cluttering your office -- I'd definitely recommend the iSight.

An important technical detail for me when choosing a webcam was the angle of the camera. Many of the people I've conferenced with had their cams pointing up their nostrils. Well, that's an exaggeration, but the iSight works at an ideal angle on a PowerBook or desktop monitor.

-Rob

BTW: If you want to see a cool, albeit useless for most, iSight trick, check out the demo for Delicious Library and ToySight. I'm sure they work with other FireWire cams too.

Hi,

I'm wondering whether there is any advanced use for Isight/Ichat
videoconferencing. For example, is it possible to
videoconference with more than one person at a time? Is it
possible to exchange any data, e.g. Word docvuments or Power
Point presentations while videoconferecning, etc.? Would be
greateful for any input on this by more advanced users. I'm just
starting with Isight. Thanks in advance, Ilona

I have looked into webcams for the pc, as my family are pc users. The best camera review was for a watersport. It is a professional camera, doesn't look like it includes a mic and has a street price of $140 to $150. I bought them this camera because I want to see them clearly too!! You get what you pay for most of the time.

RE: Multiperson video conferencing... The new version of iChat that comes with OSX Tiger has the ability to video chat with three other people at the same time.

I can't wait... I'm getting both on the 29th! ;)

if the isight is so great why can´t a person use it with msn messenger and yahoo messenger.
i bought one a few months back and you could only use it if you were an aol client and on .mac sites.
and all the peolpe i know use msn messenger and yahoo mesenger
so waht´s so great about it?
i brought mine back to the store where i had bought it for a refund.
i am still looking for a cam that works with the messengers and is totally compatible with other users cams – otherwise who needs it!
and waht warrants the cost of $130-$150 if it isn´t totally compatible?

you can use it with yahoo messenger... I read its quite easy... search the web...

msn messenger? well as long as Microsoft don't allow webcam functionality on the mac... you won't be able to use it... that's not Apple's fault... there is no cam that works with msn messenger for mac because msn can't do webcam for the moment...

I recently purchased an iBook G4 and was disapointed when i couldn't use a web cam on msn messanger also. All my friends have web cams and we have always used them as a vital way to keep in touch.
I am the first perosn I know to have a mac, and in general would reccomend it. It but this was one the major dissapointments.

Does anyone know if there are any plug in's or downloadable software to combat this???

I am looking to purchase a web cam for my laptop, but unless this problem is sorted out and fast, I can't imagine myself buying one for $140.

I've also found the Mail programme cannot send or receive my hotmail e-mails, despite me downloading various add ons. In fact I've been told that I can only do it if I sign-up to the hotmail plus account. Which seems quite costly. - What is microsoft playing at. They just seem to be making it hard for mac users to be compatible with PC's.

Thanks for all your comments. So my questions is if what camera to buy and what system to use with PC users. I have a mac, my family a PC and I am trying to find a camera and a messenger that will work with them. I have messenger, Skype (not th 2.0 version that PC's have to use a camera) and Isight. My family has messenger and Skype.

Please advise what camera and PC platform to use.

Thanks.

Hello
I have wanted to purchase a mac laptop for some time now. I am a traveler and am always away from my family and friends... My current situatuin involves my boyfriend living in another country for the next 9 months... So I am concerned about this isight compatibility issue with msn messenger, everyone I know uses msn... Does anyone have a way to use isight with msn?? I do not want to have to install a look alike msn either...

This is very bad for mac as I am actually thinking about getting pc instead... It just is not worth it to not be able to use msn...

Thank you...

Hi I have been wanting a mac laptop for a long time also.

I'm currently a PC user and use the computer mostly for msn messenger. I talk for hours on it most nights.

I am needing a new computer now soon and I really don't want to end up with one that will in anyway limit MSN as far as using it and its features I use nudge alot and wanted webcam and mike to talk to someone over seas I talk alot with.

I have been calling around to different mac dealers and they say you can use webcams on msn with mac.

I just don't know what to think anymore. Can anyone shed any light on all this for me.

Thanks

Folks - I need to understand if the Isight is compatiable with windows XP. If it I'm going to get it. As i've used with apple pc and it works great..!!! Futhermore is it compatiable with ICQ, yahoo or MSN. Can it be used to shoot still photography???

these question are provided bt Apple, piety...

Raheel

My boyfriend and I have been trying to find a suitable program that is compatible for my powerbook and his PC for over a year now. Unfortunately, MSN won't work simply because (as said above), MSN still hasn't (and probably won't) make webcam an option for the mac version. So it doesn't matter if you invest in the $150 iSight or a $40 logitech cam to use MSN's webcam options because there aren't any for the mac. Not being able to use MSN might be a reason for some not to even consider using a mac, but I found that there are only a handful of people I wanted to view my webcam anyway so looking for another client to host my cam was not a big deal.

Not to say though that having to search for a mac-PC compatible webcam client wasn't a very frustrating process. We went through several programs such as iVisit, squidCam, etc, before we just ended up settling with yahoo messenger. Yahoo was simple to use though the frame rate was pathetic and photo quality was poor (I say 'photo' because it's just that; sequential photos of segmented movements), but we were just happy to be able to see each other. Yahoo doesn't have chat capability, but we were more than happy to use skype in conjunction with yahoo as the quality of skype's calls surpasses any other service we've ever tried.

I did finally give in and bought the iSight and I have to admit the expense was well worth it. The quality is absolutely amazing compared to other webcams I've used and the video quality is even better than the $80 logitech camera my boyfriend bought. The reason I bought iSight is because mac's iChat will only recognize iSight and no other webcam (an annoying discovery), and I was growing impatient with Yahoo. And to our delight (and my wallet's delight), iChat/AIM (iChat and AIM for PC users can video chat) had much better video/picture quality and frame rate.

But to our dismay, the voice chat quality was terrible, esp having experienced Skype. So the annoying bit now is figuring how to disable the voice chat/microphone for iChat and AIM so we can use skype. As you can see, we're trying our best to find the best of two worlds which isn't really happening.

We're now just hoping Skype releases the new Mac version with webcam capabilities soon. Maybe then, our search for a packaged quality video (assuming Skype will provide such quality) and voice chatting will finally be put to a halt.

Thanks everyone, this article and comments are a great read. I'm considering buying an iSight (which has just been discontinued in the UK) but the lack of webcam functionality with MSN is a major disappointment. Still, it seems to me MS are regularly releasing versions of MSN Messenger for Mac, so we live in hope...

Hey i've just bought a MacBook, I'm very happy with it, can't complain of nothing except of the non msn compatibility iSigh little detail. Only mac users can videochat, isn't apple clossing doors with this?? Jabbler is not so popular as msn is, and it don't support video.

If there's any way to fix the iSight to work with msn please tell me!!

You can download a version of msn called 'aMSN' search on Google for it.

On my new Intel Core 2 Duo (2.33GHz) iMac G5 aMSN doesn't run too smooth - i guess it was made for the old Macs without intel chips. It seems to have random half second freezes - very annoying though!

You can use webcam on MSN on windows - i mean if you were to boot windows on your Mac via Parallels or BootCamp (i think).

I'm sure MS will release a version of MSN with iSight compatibility. If not then we'll just have to wait for Apple to take over the world....won't be too long now!

Finally...people who feel my msn/mac pain!!! GAH! As soon as someone on here finds out anything let me know..I will do the same!

Thank you all you hardcore mac users

Actually the Isight uses a superior lens to ALL PC web cams and thatis why it is so expensive.

However You can buy a used Mini DV camcorer with firewire and it will giveyou a picture quality superior to any web cam. They go for around $100 to $200 on ebay.

so forget ALL web cams and use a miniDV camcorder you might have lying around.