I have several friends with MacBooks and MacBook Pro's. Me and my lowly PowerBook G4 would like to iChat with them.

I need a relatively cheap USB camera that is known to work with Tiger. Anyone have any suggestions?

Apparently the xbox 360 webcam works well, if you have USB2. I saw it for $50 at DSE. There was also a 'generic' webcam at my Apple shop, don't know how much it was though.

xbox live webcam, USB, about $50 at JB-HiFi, apparently as good as the firewire iSight

- Jeremy

Try this..

http://frequency.com.au/sales/webcams/index.html

here's the full list

That's not the full list, it's just a list of cameras that work with Macam drivers. Any UVC compatible camera will work on a Mac with 10.4.9 and USB 2 without the need for drivers.

That's right. Any USB Video Class (UVC) webcam will work. I have found that most computer retailers do not know what UVC is. A fall back is that it must say that it is made for Vista and you are likely OK. google your options. The xbox webcam seems the cheapest option. I have a logitech ultravision, but it is $100 dearer than the xbox cam, but looks a lot better and produces a far better image.

Just thought I'd add to this.

I've opted to keep my G4 PowerBook and run it into the ground, as opposed to a sale and upgrade to MacBook.

So, I needed a webcam for it, given then every man and his dog I know has a MacBook and iSight. And a second-hand iSight on eBay etc. is a ridiculous overpriced option option not worth persuing.

Logitech have released some sweet webcams recently, and so after some research into macam and other apps to get cheaper cameras working, I have settled on one of these which I have on order at Harvey Norman - the Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks.

It is UVC (meaning it should plug and play with OS X 10.4.9+), has a 2.0 Megapixel camera, does HD video, has the top-level Logitech sound/mic system which is reportedly excellent, uses a glass Carl Zeiss lens, has a short 3-foot cable best for Notebooks, a carry case, and an adjustable clip to put it right where an in-built iSight would go. All for RRP$149.

They are also doing a similar spec'd model in a more desktop PC screen orientated design, with a 6-foot cable instead of the shorter laptop-esque 3-foot lead. It is the Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 and is the same A$ RRP.

Both appear to be great options for those of us still using Mac laptops without inbuilt iSights, and others using MacPro's and older iMac's needing a cam for the top of their screens.

Once I get mine this weekend/early next week I'll do some testing and post back here. From the reviews I've read they are far better than the old iSights and the built-in models. Can't wait to get a hold of it!!

the Xbox 360 webcam works with 10.4.9+ and is $99 iirc.

Just for clarity sake, if your G4 has USB2 you'll be fine with a UVC camera. However UVC cams will not work with USB1.

Yeah it does because I think it is also UVC, but I recall reading that it doesn't have a microphone.. that's a deal breaker for me - I need a mic, and the inbuilt PB one doesn't cut it and the Logitech appears to have the goods as far as cancelling echo etc.

Plus that xBox cam is butt-ugly. Sorry fella

For $149 I reckon these things are amazing.. iSights are going for $200, with some breaking what they originally cost - madness!!


(no, I do not work for Logitech)

Yeah it's got USB2.0 so it'll be sweet.

another vote for the xbox 360 cam, works awsome

does it have a microphone built-in Ray?


EDIT: this discussion says no

no it does not, but the ibook its connected to does, and works fine with it... so im happy