iChat for Windows

[Craigy]

It's probably been asked before, but I wonder if / when Apple will get around to porting iChat to windows. We use it to communicate with our mac based customers, have tried it with AOL but it sucks!

I know WWDC is around the corner and I havn't heard anything on this subject for a long time. I can't see why Apple won't do this, They did the same for iTunes and dramatically increased their sales of ipods - I'm sure the same would be true of the iSight, even if they had to include a Firewire PCI card..

Any thoughts?

[KiDrOck80]

http://www.macuser.co.uk/news/news_story.php?id=53377



^^ I dont know if that link will help you out...but i thought i'd give it a shot

[Kingsnapped]

I don't think Apple will give iChat over to Windows. There are a lot of IM programs for the pc and iChat could just get lost in the mix. Remember, iTunes was ported to sell iPods and promote the itms. The only profit Apple could make after spending the time to port iChat would be to sell iSights. Apple would also have to improve iChat quite a bit to include the same support (and more) as AIM offers. I miss tabbed IM windows, animated GIF icons and profiles from my Windows day, and I'm sure the vast majority of AIM'ers wouldn't give those things up.

AIM and iChat already play nice through USB (and firewire) video chat. Unless Apple thinks they can convince PC users to buy a $150 webcam, there is no motivaton for such a project.

[edesignuk]

iChat is a ******* IM client, Windows users have far better options, so do Mac users for that matter (AdiumX!!!!)

[Craigy]

iChat is a ******* IM client, Windows users have far better options, so do Mac users for that matter (AdiumX!!!!)

We use iChat for Video only with our customers.. Are there better PC / Mac Video solutions?

[wrldwzrd89]

iChat is a ******* IM client, Windows users have far better options, so do Mac users for that matter (AdiumX!!!!)
iChat isn't as bad as you make it out to be. If you're a .Mac user, it makes sense to use iChat, as Adium/Proteus/Fire may not be aware of .Mac usernames for AOL chats. Some people complain about the fact that iChat doesn't support profiles - my response to that is that I don't care, because I don't use profiles, and the best way to get Apple to implement something is to send feedback (http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html).

[edesignuk]

iChat isn't as bad as you make it out to be. If you're a .Mac user, it makes sense to use iChat, as Adium/Proteus/Fire may not be aware of .Mac usernames for AOL chats.I'm a .Mac user and I sign in to Adium with my .mac account and talk to other .Mac users with no problem what-so-ever.

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm a .Mac user and I sign in to Adium with my .mac account and talk to other .Mac users with no problem what-so-ever.
Thanks for the info about Adium. IMO, Adium/Fire/Proteus have one major disadvantage - they can suffer connectivity loss when the Big 3 tinker with their protocols. I'd much rather use three clients and have constant connectivity than one client that can't talk to anybody - that's why I prefer iChat.

[edesignuk]

Thanks for the info about Adium. IMO, Adium/Fire/Proteus have one major disadvantage - they can suffer connectivity loss when the Big 3 tinker with their protocols.I sign in to MSN & AOL via Adium, I have never had the connection drop.

[wrldwzrd89]

I sign in to MSN & AOL via Adium, I have never had the connection drop.
Do you check frequently for Adium updates? You need to do that if you use Adium, since all sorts of things can change that will cause Adium to not work as expected. If I used Adium (or Fire/Proteus), I'd make sure I got the latest updates so that I'm covered regardless of what happens to the IM networks.

[edesignuk]

Do you check frequently for Adium updates? You need to do that if you use Adium, since all sorts of things can change that will cause Adium to not work as expected. If I used Adium (or Fire/Proteus), I'd make sure I got the latest updates so that I'm covered regardless of what happens to the IM networks.Adium checks it's self for updates, and they are frequent :cool: I keep up to date with it and have no problems.

[wrldwzrd89]

Adium checks it's self for updates, and they are frequent :cool: I keep up to date with it and have no problems.
That's good. I hope you continue to have success with Adium, and I'll continue using iChat.

[FuzzyBallz]

That's good. I hope you continue to have success with Adium, and I'll continue using iChat.
LOL, same here. I'll just use what's easy. Now if Apple could throw in a FTP client w/ 10.4...

Tabbed message windows... got that on DeadAIM for AIM.

[wrldwzrd89]

LOL, same here. I'll just use what's easy. Now if Apple could throw in a FTP client w/ 10.4...

Tabbed message windows... got that on DeadAIM for AIM.
Surely you mean a read/write FTP client, as opposed to the read-only one currently in Panther?

[Kingsnapped]

Cant you FTP through the terminal?
/uses transport

[wrldwzrd89]

Cant you FTP through the terminal?
/uses transport
Yes you can - that's what I use when I need to write via FTP. Not all Mac OS X users are as familiar with the command line as I am, and would thus appreciate a graphical FTP client in Mac OS X.

[FuzzyBallz]

Yup, looking for a Fetch type FTP client by Apple, free.

[dfitzmahan]

[aricher]

Is there an iChat AV - ish program that will allow me to use my iSight with someone else on a PC using a regular webcam?

[PlaceofDis]

Is there an iChat AV - ish program that will allow me to use my iSight with someone else on a PC using a regular webcam?

iChat AV and the current AIM will let you videochat between a PC and a Mac

[MorganX]

iChat is a ******* IM client, Windows users have far better options, so do Mac users for that matter (AdiumX!!!!)

I agree, but the iChat upgrade coming in 2k5 in Panther does allow more than two to video chat which is a significant. Of course that real improvement gets lost in Jobs' BS about inventing everything.

The video conference enhancements and the Automator are significant enhancements.

[Flynnstone]

Does Adium/Fire/Proteus support video or voice chatting?

[dfitzmahan]

Sorry about the previous "Can" entry. What can I say -- "Newbie!"

I am having problems doing audio chats between my pc and various macs. i am using aim 5.5 and ichat av2.1. I have checked quite a few help sources and have tried a few remedies, but no luck. All the AIM/iChat info/help pages say it is possible.

I have tried within my home network, outside the network, using two diff isp's, working outside my router, dialup and cable, with and without camera attached to the mac, etc.

I can do audio chat between my mac and other macs, but not with any of several pcs.

any ideas?

[King Cobra]

Sorry about the previous "Can" entry. What can I say -- "Newbie!"
Well, you can say that you were glad that I wasn't around... http://www.thetechpub.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif


I have tried within my home network, outside the network, using two diff isp's, working outside my router, dialup and cable, with and without camera attached to the mac, etc.

I can do audio chat between my mac and other macs, but not with any of several pcs.
I'm 75% sure that the problem stems from your PCs and not iChat AV 2.1. Check your configuration settings on all of the PCs that you've tried, and experiment around with different ports and available network settings until you get the connection to work. I think that if my certainty is correct, then you're about to find out just what it's like to have audio chats between PCs. http://www.thetechpub.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif http://www.thetechpub.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif http://www.thetechpub.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/new_snipersmilie.gif

[LarryLymb]

King Cobra, have you been able to have audio chats with AIM users using your iChat, without webcams? Thanks

[jsw]

King Cobra, have you been able to have audio chats with AIM users using your iChat, without webcams? Thanks

I'd also be interested in how to do this - my brother (with a PC, 3000 miles away from me) can't seem to figure out how to get it to work, nor can I. Video chats are fine. Audio ones seem impossible to select.

[Windowlicker]

LOL, same here. I'll just use what's easy. Now if Apple could throw in a FTP client w/ 10.4...

oh yes yes yes.. please! transmit is ok, but doesn't handle my connections very well (might be because of the server too). I like doing things with apple software because they always work.

what I'd like most would be that I could connect by using cmd+K (Connect to Server) for this purpose. it should have an "advanced settings" window where you could put the directory path you prefer and also save your login/password. it would also be cool to have bookmarks that could be accessed from the same menu as cmd+K.

*navigating to osx feedback site*