Using Skype on a desktop computer

[boozelady]

I have a G-4 desktop, no mic, or webcam. Can I buy an external mic and camera so I can take advantage of the audio and video capabilities of Skype? Any recomedations? Is skype compatible w/macs?

 

[yellow]

Yes, yes, & yes...

Provided you can meet the requirements:

System requirements
Mac computer with G4 800 Mhz processor or faster.
Mac OS X v10.3.9 Panther or later.
For higher-resolution video a faster processor (Core 2 Duo) and a broadband connection with at least 384kbps upload speeds.
512 MB RAM.
40 MB free disk space on your hard drive.
Microphone and speakers or headset.
Download drivers for your webcam.
Internet connection (broadband is best, GPRS is not supported for voice calls, and results may vary on a satellite connection).

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/

 

[JustGretchen]

Your powerbook should have an internalized mic (depending on it's age), you just may not know about it. You can check in the sound section of system preferences. If it actually doesn't, then you can hook up any external mic.

As for a webcam, I use iusbcam to make my logitech notebook cam work on a powerbook g4. Cheap program, works great. Check out their list of compatible cameras. I was able to get one that works fine at wal-mart or target for like 20 bucks.

Otherwise, any Firewire webcam will work, but good luck finding one that doesn't cost an arm & a leg.

 

[ZMacintosh]

Your powerbook should have an internalized mic (depending on it's age), you just may not know about it. You can check in the sound section of system preferences. If it actually doesn't, then you can hook up any external mic.

As for a webcam, I use iusbcam to make my logitech notebook cam work on a powerbook g4. Cheap program, works great. Check out their list of compatible cameras. I was able to get one that works fine at wal-mart or target for like 20 bucks.

Otherwise, any Firewire webcam will work, but good luck finding one that doesn't cost an arm & a leg.

Just to clarify; Desktop....PowerMacG4 not the portables.


But you can use Skype on the desktop systems...any form of USB Mic and Webcam should work, as far as i know if your running leopard the specs of the devices will work just fine

Logitech Quickcams, there are some for relatively cheap and the snowball mics are also usable.

 

[irmongoose]

Here is a compiled list from the Skype forums of USB webcams that work with Skype on the Mac. There are plenty that don't have any "Mac-compatible" label on them but still work perfectly.

Good luck.


irmongoose