Questions about web-cams, video chat

[Will'sdad]

We were visiting some friends in Boston this weekend and they have a web-cam built into their new Mac. I was never that interested in this kind of thing but the live video chat was VERY cool. I was thinking about getting a camera and stuff for our PC but was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this kind of thing, which video chat service do you use etc.

[SideShowCecil]

We’ve been using Windows Messenger for video conferencing. It’s free, it works OK and most people already use it for chatting.

[keith021773]

alot of people use instant messengers like Yahoo or the microsoft one. They work pretty well. I hooked mine up to my wireless laptop and went outside to show my brother-in-law around the outside of our house. LOL It was pretty cool.

[DarthDaddy]

I have a wireless network and High Speed internet in my house and hopefully by summer a friend that is moving away in two weeks will have High Speed Internet.

We play board games all the time and it would be perfect to take another friends NEW wireless laptop and set up a camera so we could still all play games. Set the laptop in the missing chair spot!

If it works we will pass along our stories.

Look forward to seeing more info in this section.

[tt3]

My family and I use the yahoo messenger. We like it fine.
Kids get to see thier cousins and all that...

[vertygo]

We have webcams as well, and they are pretty fun, even if it's one way sometimes. There are some silly applications that they try to get you to use - like a cartoon avatar that moves as you do. It's fun for about 5 minutes, then it's just irritating :)

Also have a wireless webcam on the front of our house for security / watching for friends. Just view it in a browser window. Love that.

Remember, if you have a fairly new camcorder, you can use that as well (firewire for sure, not sure about USB, sorry).

I love that idea of playing board games via webcam, never thought of that! Sounds like a website idea ;)

[Will'sdad]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I just signed up for Yahoo IM because that is our main e-mail. We'll see how it goes.

[chopperglide]

the built in isight on my imac is great for the kids to talk to all the family, cousins and g-parents....we love it...

[Will'sdad]

Well, I've tried the major free video chat programs out there and have to say that, so far, MSN is the best. I was never able to get the Superwebcam on Yahoo to work. AIM had to much lag (4-5 seconds). At it's worst, MSN has about a 1 second delay. I can live with that. I got a cheap camera for about 40 bucks and a mike for about 5. If I had to do it over again I would spring for a better camera that has a mike built in, about $100. Thanks for all the input. With alot of trial and error, it has worked out quite well. 8)

[grilldaddy]

I also have the built in iSight on the new iMac. It is great for grandma to see the kids.

[seattle]

I also have the built in iSight on the new iMac. It is great for grandma to see the kids.

Very nice. What software do you use with the iSight?

[Will'sdad]

I thought I'd bump this. Skype now allows video chat between Apples and PC's. I've tried it and it works just like regular Skype. It's free as well.

[Bollux]

cool, the gf rbought home two cams from work and we have skype too....the possibilities are endless. =p

[Will'sdad]

Just click the little Skype symbol under my post count...

[Hockeyfan]

We use MSN Messenger. It works great. Lots of cool features. My son and I go on every other day to chat with family all across Canada. I have an older logitech clicksmart 510 camera. It gives nice images though and can be used as a digital camera and movie maker. Picture and sound is excellent. And you can increase the size of the person you are chatting to, too nearly the full screen.