[Freeflyer]

Hi, just found this on computer geeks.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp...44897324149705

$18 for two usb webcams is a good deal, but the cameras aren't listed on the macam site. The earthlink site lists a driver for 8.6 or higher, but is dated yr 2000, so I don't think it's going to work on osx.

Anyone know of other drivers anywhere. Most mac webcams seem to run about $100 so I'd just love to be able to use this, being a typical cheapscate.

cheers,

J.

[Mac Zealot]

Nope! Sorry.

I used to have a quickcam/usb and the only way I could get it to work was in OS 9.

I've also investigated this many times, the only cams that work are the firewire ones, which are in the range of $99.

Sorry.

[michaelb]

What is a good FireWire webcam to use with Mac OS X?

I'm keen on something with high-ish resolution, so that views through a window don't look like watercolor splotches...

Any suggestions around the $100 mark?

[engaged]

I've been looking at two in particular, in fact I think that there's only really two to consider;

Unibrain Fire-i

Orange Micro iBOT

The gf want to use it for keeping in touch with her brother in Oz; only viable now we've got ADSL.

Would be interested to hear from anyone that's got one. Don't know about prices in your area.

[michaelb]

Thanks Engaged.

If the brother here doesn't already have an iBOT, you'd better send him one: the first 2 prices I've got have been A$399 and A$409. (US$235 and US$241).

I think I'll be ordering from the US!

[moki]

First, IOXperts has drivers for many firewire/USB web cams, so it is likely you can use the ones you mention. Check out their web site for details:

http://ioxperts.com/

I personally wouldn't get anything other than a firewire webcam -- the USB ones are just way too slow. The one we're using is here:

http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webcam/

...enjoy. They are fun to play with.

[scaught]

if youre going to get an orange micro iBot, make sure you get the pro version that comes with a full install version of the BTV PRO software. the "normal" version only comes with demo software which basically leaves you with a useless cam.

that said, its a great firewire cam that looks pretty cool.

[engaged]

I have one question that perhaps someone can answer...

I have a late 2001 iBook, which has a built-in microphone - can I use this or do I need to have to get a microphone rigged up to a USB port? None of the FireWire cameras seem to have a microphone.

[macrob1n]

Engaged, I have recently bought the unibrain fire-i dv camera and it works a treat with osx.
The operating software, BTV, allows you to specify what video and audio input to use and what codec to compress it with ( now i just need a g4 for fast mpeg4 encoding!). This means you can use the internal mic just like any other connected device, like a camera mike or headphone mike etc..

The picture from the camera is good, better than the usb webcams my friends own. It also
comes with a registration to ispq video chat, but only a trial version of BTV which is limited.
(no capture, motion detection, time lapse etc....)
And being firewire you can daisy chain them together ( you need to start adding power supplies i think ) and I think that unibrain sell a 20 meter firewire cable, which would be handy.

I have found that it likes a lot of light to operate well, but this may be common to webcams in general.