Poll: Do you think Apple should port iChat AV to Windows?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: Do you think Apple should port iChat AV to Windows? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=306)

[Bunzi2k4]

sure why not? as long as they make money... i think they need to watch it though i mean... apple wants people to switch from pcs to macs, not the people saying "well all the apps that i like are now for the pc..."

[nslyax]

I think what Apple should do is make the ichatAV audio and video compatible with the standard AIM audio and video. The text messaging is compatible, so why not the A/V?

I also think it would be nice to view another ichatAV user's video without needing to have a camera yourself. One of the reasons I am so hesitant about buying a camera is because it is useless unless I know someone else with one, which I don't.

In regards to the question though, no. itunes is on windows so people will buy ipods, but what would people buy with ichat, isights? Why switch to a new IM client and buy a $149 camera when I can use a competitors camera that's cheaper, or better yet use yahoo messenger with a $15 logitech cam?

[Bunzi2k4]

yea that's the same reason why i don't have a usb camera or an isight connected to my comp right now... but if people i know had ichatAV and would use it w/ video, i'd use the video, but i seem to be getting a ton of audio conversations from people i don't know.

...?:confused:

(edited for better words)

[theipodgod16]

i agree with bunzi2k4, what benefit would apple get by porting the app? i say, port maybe safari as an alternative to IE, and thats it. Once people see two GOOD apple apps, it might get them to thinking. Besides, most people who have windows and who IM use AIM, why would they switch to ichat if they were not going to use the audio or visual part? (as i can see, not too many windows users would go out for an isight with all of the other avalable cameras that are cheaper)

[Nermal]

I think they should get MSN compatibility first. That's what everyone outside the USA uses, so they should add support for it.

[simX]

Originally posted by nslyax
I also think it would be nice to view another ichatAV user's video without needing to have a camera yourself. One of the reasons I am so hesitant about buying a camera is because it is useless unless I know someone else with one, which I don't.

Well then you're hesitating to buy a camera for the wrong reason. iChat AV can already do one-way video and audio chats, so there's no reason to postpone an iSight purchase just because somebody else doesn't have one.

http://homepage.mac.com/simx/.Pictures/one-way-av.jpg

Just use the Buddies menu, or control-click on a buddy in the buddy list.

[nslyax]

Originally posted by simX
Well then you're hesitating to buy a camera for the wrong reason. iChat AV can already do one-way video and audio chats, so there's no reason to postpone an iSight purchase just because somebody else doesn't have one.


I never noticed that, thanks. Now to get over the other reason, the isight's $149 price.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by nslyax
I think what Apple should do is make the ichatAV audio and video compatible with the standard AIM audio and video. The text messaging is compatible, so why not the A/V?

Because AIM's A/V is crap that Apple doesn't want to be associated with and that Apple doesn't want confused with its own AV?

Originally posted by nslyax
In regards to the question though, no. itunes is on windows so people will buy ipods, but what would people buy with ichat, isights? Why switch to a new IM client and buy a $149 camera when I can use a competitors camera that's cheaper, or better yet use yahoo messenger with a $15 logitech cam?

Because those cams are crap?

Bundle iChat AV for Windows with the iSight. There's the next iPod for you. (Not literally. I mean the next Apple product that will be as influential and successful as the iPod.)

[AhmedFaisal]

I finally wanna get rid of that spyware/adware laden piece of **** AIM on my g/f computer. I would happily pay for iChat AV on Windows as long as it comes with iSight compatibility. And to the other guy who mentioned MSN? Who told you outside the US it is prominently used???? Here in Europe its ICQ and AIM, ICQ with the most users, MSN almost nobody uses.
Cheers,

Ahmed

[punter]

I'm not sure if they "should" but I really want them to.

Then I could AV chat friends!! make them pay $30 or some low shareware type price. yay

[poultryfarm]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
... Bundle iChat AV for Windows with the iSight. There's the next iPod for you. (Not literally. I mean the next Apple product that will be as influential and successful as the iPod.)

i've seen this idea written a few times here and imho i just don't buy it. although i understand that isight has much better quality than other webcams it's still a webcam! and an expensive one. is it really worth it for the price? are the others that bad... considering that the end product/use is to chat?! i've never used an isight, so maybe if i at some point have the privilege of using one i will be blown away, but i doubt it.

as far as it being the next ipod. i just don't see it. how? the genius of the ipod to me is that it is a exactly that a 'pod'. a great base that can be expanded upon, and consequently we are starting to see some more interesting accessories come out. it's got software possibilities too. but how can the isight be expanded upon? what will be the 2nd generation isight? a better lens? smaller?

i'm open to be corrected/convinved.

[loneAzdgari]

I would like this to be ported to the PC but I doubt if my friends would use this if it had a price tag, why not keep a non-AV version for free? Even if this was free I doubt Apple would convert many people, why use a 3rd party app when you have a good IM App preinstalled on your Computer? (MSN) This is pretty much a lose-lose situation, I would love it if all my friends used iChat AV, but thats not going to happen.

[KLFloyd]

I voted "undecided" but here are a few thoughts...

1) iChat AV should come bundled with the iSight. It's insane to ask people to spend $150 on a firewire camera and then nickel and dime them for the software.

2) iChat AV should come bundled with a .mac Purchase. After all, you've got the .mac user name, doesn't it make sense that you get the iChat software that lets you use the benefits of that account.

3) A windows version would be nice because most of my friends use PC's and live out of state so if I could get them to use it, it would be like having a free telephone or video conversation with them. However, I don't think that the majority of Apple non-Panther users are going to pay for iChat when they can use other services for free so why should windows users?

I guess the bottom line I'm making here is $30 for the iChat software seems insanely high, especially when it's only compatible with .mac usernames and AIM.

Also, when you look at even the current Mac version and most certantley the PC versions of AIM, they have tons of additional features. Heck, iChat doesn't even have in built in Away Messages. I use iChat because I upgraded to Panther, but I wouldn't have paid for it if i didn't get it for free. In fact, I'm having a hard time convincing my friends who have it to use it. If you're not doing video and audio chats on a regular basis then why not simply use AIM?

Okay, I've gone on too long without really making a point. Just my thoughts...

[AhmedFaisal]

Originally posted by KLFloyd
Also, when you look at even the current Mac version and most certantley the PC versions of AIM, they have tons of additional features. Heck, iChat doesn't even have in built in Away Messages.
[/B]

Most of these features are IMHO pretty useless and just clog up the interface and make it more complicated than needed (ok, thats the Mac User in me talking)

Originally posted by KLFloyd
I use iChat because I upgraded to Panther, but I wouldn't have paid for it if i didn't get it for free. In fact, I'm having a hard time convincing my friends who have it to use it. If you're not doing video and audio chats on a regular basis then why not simply use AIM?
[/B]

Why not AIM? 2 words: Ad-ware, Spy-ware
Cheers,

Ahmed

[j33pd0g]

OK. I don't anything about PC stuff, but wouldn't most people have to go out and get FW cards in order to use the iSight? USB2?

[jer2665]

Originally posted by theipodgod16
...i say, port maybe safari as an alternative to IE, and thats it. Once people see two GOOD apple apps, it might get them to thinking.


Safari would SUCK on windows. Just like IE sucks on the mac. Apple knows the operating system, thus can really tie in the browser better with that, to make it much quicker. Just like IE can do on windows. I think that'd hurt them, becuase there's what...like 8000 differnet browsers for windows? It'd probably just be a waste of time and effort. people aren't purposefully looking and waiting for apple to make programs for windows...or they'd just switch and get them all now imo.

As for ichat, i dont see many people doing it. There are programs for video communication on windows I think. (i think i remember some, but havent looked to see how many) and also aim is free to just chat. So all you'd get is the internet video conferencing people, which are a lot less than the simple instant messaging people. I think apple needs a while to come up with something good to make for windows, iTunes really could have hurt them with the bugs and problems the first day,

[GrannySmith_G5]

I don't think ichat av is even that good of a program. They should work on improving it greatly before they even consider porting it to windows.

[fixyourthinking]

Originally posted by KLFloyd
I voted "undecided" but here are a few thoughts...

1) iChat AV should come bundled with the iSight. It's insane to ask people to spend $150 on a firewire camera and then nickel and dime them for the software.

2) iChat AV should come bundled with a .mac Purchase. After all, you've got the .mac user name, doesn't it make sense that you get the iChat software that lets you use the benefits of that account.

3) A windows version would be nice because most of my friends use PC's and live out of state so if I could get them to use it, it would be like having a free telephone or video conversation with them. However, I don't think that the majority of Apple non-Panther users are going to pay for iChat when they can use other services for free so why should windows users?

I guess the bottom line I'm making here is $30 for the iChat software seems insanely high, especially when it's only compatible with .mac usernames and AIM.


The only thing I see wrong with what you said is that iChat IS, IMHO, priced correctly and it is also FREE inside 10.3 and with Macs that are shipping as of the Panther release. Apple knows that a lot of people won't initially move to 10.3, so soaking a little for a little while is okay in my opinion. (Helps pay for the devlopment)

I wholeheartedly agree that the iSight should come with iChat A/V and it should also have the new RecordItNow software with it.

Read this journal entry at /. for my thoughts on the iSight:

http://slashdot.org/~adzoox/journal/50735

[fixyourthinking]

Originally posted by j33pd0g
OK. I don't anything about PC stuff, but wouldn't most people have to go out and get FW cards in order to use the iSight? USB2?

Most HPs and Sonys priced higher than $1000 and the majority of other high end PCs have shipped with firewire for about a year as standard

The iSight, if it remained firewire, could make a small inroad for Apple in to the PC market for retaining Firewire.

If Apple isn't careful, Firewire will fade into non existence if they don't continue to give people resons to use it.

[dombi]

Yeah!
I would love to see many of my PC friends using Apple software. They would relize why is this company so great, and maybe they would be curious enough to make the "switch" too.
Can you imaging Bill Gates getting his mac.com account just so that he could use iChatAV? His login would be:
iwillstealyourideas@mac.com

d

[Wonder Boy]

i was looking for a fourth option-

I don't care.

[Chealion]

For sure iChat AV should be ported? Why? Its so damn easy to use, and that means I can use the iSight on a PC. Charging them $30 to get iChat AV will net 0 sales. Why? Well every other chat program is free.

The only problem I for see is getting users to use it instead of MSN, or ICQ. It doesn't have all those features, but in my experience most people have an AIM account already. (I know I have all 3 and use MSN and ICQ through Proteus, and AIM in iChat.)

Either that or provide drivers so PC users can use the iSight.

[j33pd0g]

Originally posted by adzoox
Most HPs and Sonys priced higher than $1000 and the majority of other high end PCs have shipped with firewire for about a year as standard

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware of the higher end PC market. At least not around here. Everybody I say you should have got a mac to, responds with: I don't have that kind of cash. They think they made out with the $400 package deal. These are the same people who love windows - but only use it to surf, or write word docs.

[wdlove]

I voted yes, because Apple has to look at the reality of the market. iSight and iChat is a superior product, Widows users would be a huge market.

[wdlove]

I voted yes, because Apple has to look at the reality of the market. iSight and iChat is a superior product, Widows users would be a huge market.

[Giaguara]

sure. 29,95 $ for windows users .. :)

[Kyle]

I am sick of Apple porting stuff to Windows. I can see it now:

Finder. For Mac and Windows. :rolleyes:

[Chealion]

Kyle - How can you be sick? They've ported iTunes. They ported QuickTime at like Version 1 and have just kept it up to date, because QuickTime is not a Mac product, but an Apple product that is a media type.

[timbloom]

iChat is great, on a mac. But the beauty of iChat isn't just the program, it's with its ties into the OS. Such as how it works with Address Book.app, how Address Book works with iSync, and iChat's menu extra (just to name a few obvious ones). If you port this over to windows and sell it, PC people will just complain that it costs them money to use it. AIM is free for them, so they would assume iChat should be.

All that needs to happen to make both sides of the fence happy is to just make iChat AV and AIM work together for A/V. It's really that simple.

Apple doesn't need to put their resources into something that will just bring them ridicule from people that aren't their normal customers. iTMS is a completely different venture, and to make it work, they needed iTunes ported to windows. But I don't see that as the case here. All we need is interoperability between 2 apps that run on the same service. This way Apple does not have to support a load of Windows users. This would keep Apple's cost down and keep us with our nice little app that works well with our nice OS.

With this working, Apple would probably sell more iSights because many of our PC friends may jump on the AV bandwagon.

[mrsebastian]

absolutely, positively yes! if i knew all my friends that are on pc were able to chat with me over ichat av, i'd go buy isight right now. till that happens i'll use it for good ol' text chatting.

[nslyax]

Yes, it would be nice.
Yes, ichatAV and the isight are in many aspects the superior product.

But, the mac itself is in many ways the superior product, and yet they use windows. People don't use Windows because it's better, they use it because it's cheaper and more compatible. ichat and the isight are not. So there will likely be few adopters, and it probably just wont be profitable enough for Apple to do a port.

Yes, it would be great, but I just don't see it happening.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by Chealion
Kyle - How can you be sick? They've ported iTunes. They ported QuickTime at like Version 1 and have just kept it up to date, because QuickTime is not a Mac product, but an Apple product that is a media type.

They ported QuickTime at version 3.

[shadowfax]

crap, i couldn't find the "hell no" button.

i don't have a windows box, don't ever want to again, and don't want them to waste their time making more stuff for a platform that is no good. i'd rather see them make iChat a really good mac app than see them make iChat the same OK app it is, only on 2 platforms. i mean come on, iChat is still pretty shameful, feature-wise, compared to AIM. no animated Gifs, iffy file transfers... all kinds of really basic stuff.

[Phil Of Mac]

Are all your friends Mac users, shadowfax?

[Dippo]

Porting iChat just doesn't feel like a good idea.

There are many reasons, and there just isn't a market for this until cell phones are fully video equipped for video conferencing :)

[manitoubalck]

This may or may not ever happen, but forever is a long time and I can live in hope. So why not develop OS X for the x86 processor platform. How would the PC industry feel if a 64-bit version of OS X was released for the AMD 64 and G5 ath the same time?

I use a PC because I can build the complete system, and know that I have installed everything the right way. I can custimize how I see fit, at the moment apple wont let me do that.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
This may or may not ever happen, but forever is a long time and I can live in hope. So why not develop OS X for the x86 processor platform.

THOU SHALT NOT HAVE MAC OS X ON INTEL ARGUMENTS IN UNRELATED THREADS.

I have spoken.

[manitoubalck]

Did you read my post? I made no mention of intel, and the post is on topic, since the thread is about porting apple apps to the x86 platform(cuttently owned by windows.)

[Phil Of Mac]

x86 platform = Intel, at least in context of "Mac OS X on" arguments.

[neutrino23]

I don't feel real strong about it but I voted in favor of porting iChatAV to windows.

In general, Apple should consider porting all the apps which are not completely centric to the Mac.

For example, iTMS helps Apple sell iPods. QuickTime helps promote the use of the format. Porting Safari will reduce (to some extent) the prevalence of IE and encourage web designers to code to standards.

On the other hand, FCP, iMovie, Address Book, Mail, and Apple's other creative apps should remain Mac only.

[deejemon]

My preference is for Apple to NOT port iChat to Windows, but to either:

a) open the APIs/technology/whatever to enable other developers to add iChat AV compatibility to their apps. eg: Trillian.
b) get AOL to put iChat AV compatibility into AIM, thereby getting AOL to do the "port" for them. How many million AOL users? Ergo, how many million potential "iChat AV"-ers?

[Gymnut]

Yes. I'd buy an iSight if it were so. A little silly that this great piece of technology is being held up by compatability issues.

[asgardn1]

Now that AOL's video chat will not supposedly be able to work with iChat AV Video and Audio chat(and will probably suck in terms of quality anyway), yes I do think they should port it. They should improve the feature set & offer it for free for Mac OS X(10.1 as well), Windows(2000/XP/Longhorn), Linux(X86/PPC), and Palm OS. And maybe even IRIX, BSD, BeOS, and Solaris while they're at it.

That should be where the ports should end though. Unless they come out with a Quicktime Movie store and a PowerPod to play them on.

[Bengt77]

Originally posted by AhmedFaisal
Here in Europe its ICQ and AIM, ICQ with the most users, MSN almost nobody uses.

Ehm ... I don't know where in Europe you live, but here where I live almost nobody is left using ICQ and absolutely nobody I know is using AIM (the sole reason why I never touched iChat). Everyone is using MSN here. Yes, that's too bad, since it's Microsoft's and all, but still; it works okay. I really do think Apple should get around the table with Microsoft and get some sort of 'licence' to make iChat MSN-compatible. That would be awesome. In fact, why not make all IM-software use the same network so that the only reason to use a certain IM-package is it's feature set and it's cost? :rolleyes:

Also, I don't really understand the iChat AV fuzz over there in the USA, since Microsoft has had video and audio chat since long with MSN Messenger. Please, what's so much better in iChat AV that justifies all the fuzz? :confused:

Also, does iChat behave the same as MSN in that your buddy list is not stored on the computer but on a central server? That feature of MSN rocks; hope it works like that in iChat. The only thing I really hate in MSN is the fact that every time I try (or a buddy of mine tries) to send a file (between Mac and PC) it fails. :mad:

[asgardn1]

MSN Messenger for the Mac does not support video chat for starters. Yahoo does but the quality sucks. Other than that iChat is a lot prettier than AIM itself and supports the network that everyone I know actually uses.

[Bengt77]

Originally posted by Dippo
Porting iChat just doesn't feel like a good idea.

Yeah, that exactly is how I feel about this. No way they should port it; too much downsides to it. Just make it compatible with other's IM-packages. Buy out the guys from Proteus and Fire and incorporate the frameworks/APIs so that iChat works with all packages.

But, either way, I agree. "Porting iChat just doesn't feel like a good idea."

[asgardn1]

You can't just make iChat AV compatible with Yahoo's video chat or AOL's upcoming video chat without throwing away all the existing code. And that's assuming AOL will even share the code for their videochat functionality. Yahoo's video quality sucks by comparison to iChat AV with an iSight. AOL's upcoming video chat supposedly will not work with iChat AV's and the AOL video quality will probably such by iChat AV standards anyway. So, as it is, we cannot videochat with other people at the same level we can with other Panther/Jaguar users.

That is why they should port it to at least Windows. It would be nice if they could improve the feature set and support Yahoo, MSN, and ICQ as well. They should also port it to Linux as well if not everything else I mentioned.