Is iChat really worth using?

[MarkW19]

I had a few problems with iChat a few months ago, mainly trying to videoconference with Windows users who apparently had AIM 5.5 but it kept crashing my whole system (it froze and I had to do a hard restart).

As yet, I've never been able to find a Windows user that I can videochat with!

Does it really work with AIM 5.5 on WinXP? Or does it depend on other factors too?

Out of interest, as I've never seen video in iChat, does anyone fancy letting me view their webcam on their Mac (using iChat) for a couple of minutes so I can see the video quality? Preferably with broadband and even better with iSight because I'm thinking of getting one!

Cheers,

Mark

 

[7on]

I wouldn't mind, but my PB is being Applecared and my current machine can't handle vid conferencing. I video chat with my mom (whose on XP) fine. Though I wish she'd get a uni-directional mic. I believe on the fine print of AIM's download site it'll say that XP needs a patch to work video conferencing correctly. Also firewalls may stop their video from broadcasting, or your firewall. I like iChat. It suites my needs.

EDIT: oh, my PB will probably be here Tuesday (damn Labor Day) if you don't care to wait till then.

 

[Gee]

I think it's a really sweet little program. I have video chats with my mate in hongkong quite a lot, and it's pretty good quality (512kb broadband, isight, 12" rev A powerbook both ends). Plus there's some neat touches - for instance it pauses iTunes when you get a call.

Cheers
G

 

[NusuniAdmin]

I do voice chat with windows users once in a while, no crashes here.

 

[MarkW19]

Cool, so XP users need to download a patch for it to work correctly, and may need to disable their Firewall?

Does XP have a Firewall built in like OSX does? If so, how do you disable it?

Anyway, I've just ordered my iSight and Griffin Sightlight, after months of thinking about it

Anyone fancy letting me see their webcam on iChat? Preferably an iSight but no matter if not?

 

[stoid]

Cool, so XP users need to download a patch for it to work correctly, and may need to disable their Firewall?

Does XP have a Firewall built in like OSX does? If so, how do you disable it?

Anyway, I've just ordered my iSight and Griffin Sightlight, after months of thinking about it

Anyone fancy letting me see their webcam on iChat? Preferably an iSight but no matter if not?

I have yet to get the iChat/AIM AV chat of any kind to work, though I haven't messed with it too much.

Also, I haven't heard many god things about the Griffin SightLight. Especially in a recent MacAddict review it got a rather poor rating. You might want to make sure that you can send it back if it doesn't do what you want.

 

[FuzzyBallz]

Well the thing w/ AIM for PC is most people smart enough uses firewall, software and/or hardware, which blocks any none text chat transmission by AIM. For smooth video/audio chat w/ a PC user using iChat, he/she has to turn off ALL firewall. It's be nice if both parties have a Mac w/ iSight using iChat though.

 

[JLS]

Cool, so XP users need to download a patch for it to work correctly, and may need to disable their Firewall?

Does XP have a Firewall built in like OSX does? If so, how do you disable it?

Anyway, I've just ordered my iSight and Griffin Sightlight, after months of thinking about it

Anyone fancy letting me see their webcam on iChat? Preferably an iSight but no matter if not?

XP has a built in firewall, its possible to turn it off through the control panel.

It would be great if iChat worked with MSN/Passport accounts.. no PC users I know in their right mind would use anything to do with AOL.

 

[MarkW19]

Which control panel is it?

And, where do you download the patch from to make videoconferencing work?

 

[robotrenegade]

Yeah ichat is pimp. I use it a lot the time to talk to my family.

 

[JLS]

Open Network Connections (In Control Panel)

Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.

On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, to disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.

I have no idea about the video conferencing chat patch. Sorry.