With the rest of the world tring to implement H.323 compliat terminals, Apple comes out with a custom one. I think is like if nokia would produces phones that only works with other nokias. I'm right? or is just that I haven't slept much.

I'm not concerned at all with standards - I just want the best video conferencing solution I can get right now, and it just happens to be with the iSight.

OK.. so how about from a PC to a Mac?
I want to do a similar thing, but between my girlfriend in teh UK, and me in New Zealand (whilst on holiday).
I'll have a PC, she'll have a Mac.

I thought about iSight, but I don't have a Mac.. and it's not worth buying one for a 3 week vacation!
Looks like I use MSN Messenger (has a Mac and a PC version), or the SquidSoft software.

Did you look at either of these options? What made you choose iSight (other than the <ExtremeDroolMode>sexy new iSight camera...</ExtremeDroolMode>

Dourn.

Dourn -

"OK.. so how about from a PC to a Mac?"

There is a beta version of iChat out right now that supports Windows/Mac video conferencing, but it isn't remotely as nice as Mac to Mac.

It *does* work, but it isn't a great experience.

"Did you look at either of these options? What made you choose iSight"

I've been using MSN IM for Windows to Windows video conferenceing, and it's uber crappy. With the iSight, like I said, we were getting 15fps the whole time. With MSN IM, my girlfriend and I have been getting about one frame every two seconds. Then, for reasons unknown, my cam eventually winds down and stops transmitting almost entirely.

Very frustrating. I've been using that all week, and the iChat/iSigh combo was quite the breath of fresh air.

The reason I chose the iSight over other systems was experience and reviews. I had used an iSight briefly when they first came out, and was impressed with the thirty second demo I had.

I had also used NetMeeting in the past (crap), and MSN IM in the present. They both left me totally unsatisfied.

Looked around at some other options, read many reviews, and finally decided that an iBook/iSight would be worth it (my trip is quite a bit longer than three weeks, though :).

The new version of AOL IM has videoconferencing capabilities. I tried it once, and it was a lot better than expected. I've never used iSight, but have used NetMeeting, and long before that, CuSeeMe. Surprisingly, the AOL version was the best by far. I'd be curious to hear how it compares to the Apple product.

How about Live Communications Server?


http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx?assetid=FX010908711033

Download the trial version:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=EE49925E-4ECB-4F85-94BD-669FDDC0D407&displaylang=en

Paul -

"How about Live Communications Server?"

I needed a solution that would be easy for my grandmother to use :)

She didn't have a computer before a couple weeks ago. The Mac made it easy for us to get up and running quickly.

"She didn't have a computer before a couple weeks ago. The Mac made it easy for us to get up and running quickly."

Watch out. By next week, she'll be all kindsa l33t and stuff. 'Sonny, you got pwnd!'

Hey Rory.
(Well, that's the last time I'll try to be smart in assuming that the forms engine on your site understands HTML so therefore try and include escape codes... ;-)) How the hell do you close a parenthetical statement after you put a happy emoticon??? Always looks stupid!! Surely there's scope for a book on this subject...)

Anyway.. I'm going to give Yahoo messenger a go:
* It supports messenging on both Mac and PC
* It supports using my Sony Handycam as a WebCam (good quality and don't need to buy a separate WebCam)
* The default refresh rate is 1 second (i.e. 1 frame/s), but the new version has a Super (or Turbo) mode where the IM client connects directly to the other person and allows (apparently) 15 frames/s.

I need to test this, obviously, but if it works, I'll use it!
I also looked at SquidCam (http://www.squidsoft.com), but that involves paying money...! ;-$

How's Connecticut working out for you?
(wow that's a strnge word.. I've never had to type that word in my life before.. connect-i-cut.. bizarre.. tho possibly not so bizarre if you a) live in america or b) actually live in connecticut..!)

Dourn.