Poll: Did you buy an iSight? [Archive]

pbooktebo

Nov 6, 2003, 01:34 AM

I used a digital video camera via firewire, but dropped connections and the fact that I had to hold it while chatting made it more difficult than plain email, and so I haven't used one or thought of buying an iSight.

I could imagine many scenarios where it would be wonderful to have one, but I'm not there yet.

Toppa G's

Nov 6, 2003, 01:43 AM

I got one for free too...from the chicago store. I also have a 500 mHz machine. There is a hack that worked in the beta version of iChat AV (haven't tested it in the Panther version) to make it work on a slower than 500 mHz machine, but it does run sort of slow and seems to be pretty taxing on the computer.

More info about this at http://www.ecamm.com/mac/ichatusbcam/

macnews

Nov 6, 2003, 02:18 AM

I want to in the worst way but it would sit on top of my imac, look out of place (gilled look on top of a nice clean white look) and I have no one that I would want to talk with on a regular basis - that I really care about and would want to spend the time with. Still, it is hard to resist the little suckers.....

Awimoway

Nov 6, 2003, 04:56 AM

1. Can't afford one right now

2. Even if I could, I don't know anyone else who has one

3. Even if I did, a more economical method would be to use my DV cam with iChat AV.

timbloom

Nov 6, 2003, 05:13 AM

Originally posted by theipodgod16
It requires 600 mz g3. Im at 500mz g3. Is the 100 mz really that much different? i mean, i run a ton of programs at once with no problem...

100mhz isn't a big difference, but apple had to draw the line somewhere. It encodes the video from dv to mpeg or whatever it uses in real time, so even if you had that extra 100 mhz, I wouldn't suggest it. It slows my 800mhz iBook to a crawl. I really suggest a g4 processor to use it, that altivec engine REALLY comes in handy for it.

Bob Knob

Nov 6, 2003, 05:45 AM

I picked a couple up the first day they came out, and I use it everyday to connect with the office (I work out of my house in another city/area code), I have even used it to connect with a company we do work with in another state. The savings in phone bills and FTP sites paid for them in the first couple of months.
A friend of mine who is an architect video iChats with his and even moves the iSight over models he's working on to give his clients "walk thoughs" of the models. He said it was a tough sell to get his first client to try it so he sent them an iSight loaner, and now they are hooked and so are most of his other clients. He's got about 8 clients all happily iChat-ing away.

KLFloyd

Nov 6, 2003, 07:52 AM

I haven't bought one yet and I'm really not considering it anytime in the near future.

The $150 price tag seems a little high, but more so I don't know anyone else who has an iSight so it makes it useless for me to have one. Maybe when other IM services jump on the video chat bandwagon and are compatible with iChat then it'll make it worth my while.

But right now, it kinda reminds me of the early fax machine. The first one was totally useless. It wasn't until they gained popularity that they became useful.

dricci

Nov 6, 2003, 08:35 AM

I'll consider buying one when Apple wakes up and makes iChat AV have the features I want, and have cross-platform support :D

tazo

Nov 6, 2003, 09:30 AM

I might buy one if ya could record video footage (so I could record amateur [joke] movies with friends and start playing around with imovie)

1macker1

Nov 6, 2003, 09:37 AM

I use a Samsung Mini DV camcorder. Just connect the Firewire cable and it works perfectly(real time video).

idkew

Nov 6, 2003, 12:40 PM

i don't have one, but unfortunately, my parents got themselves and my sister a critter cam since they live in iowa and rhode island, respectively, about a month b4 isights were released. oh well.

peteMG

Nov 6, 2003, 12:44 PM

I bought one the same day that I got 10.3 (release day). So far, I've only used it to chat with my cousin and his DV camera, but I'm counting on an upcoming demonstration for my mom and other relatives (I live in California.. they all live in Maine) to get them on the bandwagon too. We've been trying to do videoconferencing for years, since we had CU-See Me and modem connections in 1996, but the technology was never quite up to it. Now, finally, we all have broadband and good cameras. The first chat I had with my cousin fired right up with no hassle, and the quality was really superb.

Originally posted by tazo
I might buy one if ya could record video footage (so I could record amateur [joke] movies with friends and start playing around with imovie)
Try getting the .QuickTime Broadcaster (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/broadcaster/) software. It's designed to stream to QTSS, but you can also use it to record streams to disk.

TomSmithMacEd

Nov 6, 2003, 01:37 PM

I've been thinking of getting one, but I don't know if anyone else has one. And does anyone know if there is open chats you can do? Like on AIM. Where you can go to the "computer chat" or something like that.

mc68k

Nov 6, 2003, 01:58 PM

too expensive

my comp cant run it n e ways

Dahl

Nov 6, 2003, 02:05 PM

I got one, but I have no one to chat with.
Anyways, I got it so I can chat with my brother in Denmark and he still doesn't have one yet.
I never had the "need" to chat before ( forums are good enough for me ), so where do you go to find chat rooms? How does it work ? Is there any chat room without annoying 15 year olds ? :D

iShater

Nov 6, 2003, 02:34 PM

I have a miniDV camera, so I don't need this. But, the problem is that there isn't a videoconference software that is common for Mac and PC (that I am aware of). So that limits chatting with family using this :(

Bunzi2k4

Nov 6, 2003, 03:31 PM

if they can somehow make the price to be 100, and some friends of mine would get some, then i'd get the isight, untill then, audio will have to do...

Anonymous Freak

Nov 6, 2003, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by dho
What is a suffiecient upstream for a video chat anyway?

my dsl only get 15
and my cable gets 30
:(

Assuming you mean 15 and 30 kiloBYTES per second, that's plenty. Usually, internet data speeds are measured in kiloBITS (or Megabits) per second (such as my cable company's 1.8 Mb/s download, 256kb/s upload, or my local phone co's DSL of 768kb/s down, 128kb/s up.

iChatAV apparently has three speed/quality settings (according to the iChatAV homepage (http://www.apple.com/ichat) .) The lowest quality one (which is the only one I have actually used, because the only friend I know that also uses iChatAV with a camera barely meets the minimum requirements of a 600Mhz G3,) uses a bitrate of about 150kb/s (which, when you convert to kiloBYTES, is 19kB/s,) but we get a rock solid 15fps.

I've even used video chatting when connected over my cellphone (which only has a 60-100kb/s connection,) but the framerate would slow to 10fps, and the video would pixelate badly during fast motion.

I use a DV camcorder, but he uses an iSight. He says it's worth it, even though I'm one of only two people he knows who also has video chatting capability.

deejemon

Nov 6, 2003, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by madamimadam
There was no "I got one free at WWDC"
:(

I just chose "yes"
:)

Mine came from WWDC too, but I chose "No", cos I didn't actually buy it. Guess that means we kind of cancel each other out...

mrsebastian

Nov 6, 2003, 06:27 PM

nope don't have one. yes i want one, but till mac ports ichat for the pc i won't be able to talk to most of my friends/family on their pcs :(

wdlove

Nov 6, 2003, 09:24 PM

I'm considering the purchase of the iSight. My wife has encouraged me. I'm just not sure who I would commnicate with. Guess what I will need is at least one iChat pal.

tazo

Nov 6, 2003, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by peteMG

Try getting the .QuickTime Broadcaster (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/broadcaster/) software. It's designed to stream to QTSS, but you can also use it to record streams to disk.

Basically I want an isight to be a minidv cam ;)
but thanks for the link nonetheless

applemacdude

Nov 6, 2003, 10:41 PM

I have no need for the isight...not now maybe later

~Shard~

Nov 6, 2003, 11:15 PM

I'd really like to pick up an iSight, but I only know of one of my friends who has one! So, I really wouldn't be able to use it, but dammit, it's so cool! As a result, I'm considering it. ;)

PretendPCuser

Nov 6, 2003, 11:22 PM

I have a miniDV camera, running with a G4 4oo. Haven't tried it yet, (no one like every one else, anyone up for a chat? 8)

I do want to see if it will work with my miniDV with the G4 4oo (i have an extra one) and would think of giving it to my son so that we could stay in touch better). So i would buy an iSight for that.

neutrino23

Nov 7, 2003, 01:27 AM

I use it on my G4 PB 15" Al.

When I travel I take it with me. If I get a hotel with broadband then I can VC with my wife and kids. Kind of fun. Works amazingly well.

wdlove

Nov 7, 2003, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by neutrino23
I use it on my G4 PB 15" Al.

When I travel I take it with me. If I get a hotel with broadband then I can VC with my wife and kids. Kind of fun. Works amazingly well.

I can think of no better reason to puchase iSight, than to have the ability to keep in contact with family. Would make it almost like still being at home. Do most hotel's have broadband now?

Bunzi2k4

Nov 7, 2003, 10:49 PM

hey i'm debating whether i should get a usb webcam and install a driver or two to make it work with ichat, the usb camera would be like $20, should i get it?

Genie

Nov 9, 2003, 03:59 AM

Apple gave me one for being a good girl, and I like it alot!

wdlove

Nov 9, 2003, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by Genie
Apple gave me one for being a good girl, and I like it alot!

I am glad to hear that you are a good girl Genie. Believe that you are a very deserving person to get an iSight from Apple. Happy to hear that you like it. One more reason to attend WWDC. If I get an iSight some day would you converse with me?

Genie

Nov 9, 2003, 09:09 PM

Sure!:)

wdlove

Nov 10, 2003, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by Genie
Sure!:)

Thank you Genie, now I have an incentive to purchase iSight. It may not be till next year. I will PM you when the time comes. :)

Genie

Nov 12, 2003, 01:43 AM

Any clues on how to extend my firewire cable so I can put the isight by my station?

wdlove

Nov 12, 2003, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by Genie
Any clues on how to extend my firewire cable so I can put the isight by my station?

You should call Apple to see if they have a female/male connector for firewire cable. Then you should be able to connect them without a problem. Does connecting the iSight your monitor not work effectively?

Genie

Nov 12, 2003, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by wdlove
You should call Apple to see if they have a female/male connector for firewire cable. Then you should be able to connect them without a problem. Does connecting the iSight your monitor not work effectively?

It's about 40 feet away- I think I need a firewire repeater-
know a good source?

scem0

Nov 12, 2003, 11:07 PM

no.

I have no need of one.

scem0

scat999999

Nov 15, 2003, 02:35 PM

And that's not highly likely. Hmmmm...but my wife has an eMac at her office. Maybe I will pick up a couple.

~Shard~

Nov 15, 2003, 05:27 PM

Any thoughts when the iSights might drop in price? I know they're relatively new, but still, as technology advances and gets cheaper, Apple should be able to make the iSights for cheaper, resulting in a lower price. I think a lower priced iSight would definitely spark more interest in consumers. I'm not saying they're overpriced by any means, so don't get me wrong, I'm just saying if they were cheaper they would be even more attractive, (although I guess this is the case with any product!), and I wonder when the price on them might drop - if at all...

edit: spelling mistakes

Dahl

Nov 18, 2003, 06:07 PM

I just used iChat AV and iSight with my brother and it is AWESOME.....

I live in L.A., far away from Denmark ( that's in Scandinavia ) where my brother lives and our connection was great.
Only "problem" is that we might need to use lamps to help with the light because of the time diffence, no outside light at the same time.

I highly recommend getting iSight and iChat AV, if you have broadband and loved ones that live far away. In less than a week, my mom will see her grandson and I'm sure she will think about gettting a Mac after that.

Too me, video chat is the biggest thing since emails, it's soooooo coool.... I did see demos, but when you finally try it at home and see it's true value, you will see that it's worth every penny, even if it costs $150.

manitoubalck

Nov 18, 2003, 08:20 PM

Originally posted by tazo
I might buy one if ya could record video footage (so I could record amateur [joke] movies with friends and start playing around with imovie)

Yes amature videos:rolleyes: with, "Friends" and where might your computer be located in relations to your bed??

Dahl

Nov 18, 2003, 09:03 PM

StarManta

Dec 10, 2003, 03:37 PM

Is there a thread on here that I can't find for people looking for people to chat with on ichat AV?
If not, someone should make one....

Gymnut

Dec 10, 2003, 03:50 PM

If I recall there's a website that lists people who have ichat AV. Recall seeing it in the latest Macworld mag. I'll find out when I get home from work. As for me I've just got my DV cam plugged in but haven't tested it out since nobody seems to want to fork over $150.

StarManta

Dec 10, 2003, 08:53 PM

Aha!
http://www.myiSight.com
Already managed to meet some people there... awesome database.

criduchat

Dec 11, 2003, 11:08 PM

I would like to hook one to my 20" Apple Cinema Display. But, it looks like Apple makes a glue-on bracket only. Do not wish to deface the monitor, or risk damage to it on un-gluing it. Does any third party make a simple clamp bracket? Has anyone used Apple's bracket and managed to remove it without damage?

Toppa G's

Dec 11, 2003, 11:26 PM

It's not really a glue...it's a sticky tape that seems to come off easily. I used it to suspend a bracket on my wall and it actually fell off from teh weight of the iSight, so it's not going to wreck anything.

criduchat

Dec 11, 2003, 11:38 PM

Thanx, Toppa G

Cri..

Dahl

Dec 12, 2003, 02:51 AM

Look here as well:
http://www.macmice.com
I really dig the sightflex.

StarManta

Dec 12, 2003, 04:33 AM

It actually comes with one clip that just slides onto the top of my laptop screen... I think that would fit on a cinema display.... not sure though.

aethier

Dec 12, 2003, 05:59 AM

yup and the quality isn't that much better then with my ibot

aethier

criduchat

Dec 12, 2003, 11:34 AM

Munga tusen tak all. (that's "thanks very much" in Nørsk), especially Anders Dahl. That SightClips looks like a good deal, and not priced too ridiculously. Have printed it out & think I will go that way. Will also show local CompUSA and Apple Store managers the article. They seem to sincerely appreciate that sort of thing.

Adjô,
Cri...

criduchat

Dec 12, 2003, 11:38 AM

Aethier,

My contribution to literature "I sync, zerefor I am".

Cri..

wdlove

Dec 12, 2003, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by StarManta
Aha!
http://www.myiSight.com
Already managed to meet some people there... awesome database.

Thank you StarManta, myiSight site looks very interesting. I will keep it in mind for the future. Some day I will be able to upgrade.