video conference

[george]

can some video guru explain the basic instructions on how to set up simple one to one video link ie me in the UK and my niece in North Carolina.
ta much.
George.

[bobw]

Depends on what operating system each are using. If you're both using Macs and OS X, then you can use iChatAV. Works great.

If you're both using an older version of Mac OS or one is a Mac and one is a PC, you can use ISPQ This works very well, but no where as good as iChat.

Firewire Webcams work the best, but you can use USB. You need to post more info about what machines and systems you're using.

[george]

The setup that I have is:
G3 cpu 300mhz  OS 10.2.6 Memory 640mb USB +firewire also OS 9.2.2 on separate HDD.
G4 (mirrored doors) OS 10.2.6 + all std extras
self-build PC running on XP pro, you name it and I put it in.
Brand new PC laptop with + USB + firewire.
I am comparitively new to the world of Macs  therefore what may seem standard jargon to you is probably double-dutch to me.
iChatAV I know not, my Philips webcam I can use either on my PC or on either Mac using Classic.
have I missed anything?
George.
 

[bobw]

But what machine and system is your niece using?

This is Apple's iChatAV

This is ISPQ

iChat will only work only on Macs, for right now at least. Probably on PC's by the end of the year.

ISPQ will work crossplatform - Mac to Mac - Mac to PC.

[george]

My niece is using Pc stuff, had a look at ispq it seems designed for chat rooms rather than a stand-alone one to one.
As for iChatAV at the moment it  does not appear to be cross-platform.
George

[bobw]

ISPQ is a one on one or you can have multiple chats. I've been using it for at least 6 months to talk to friends and it works well. I still use it to talk to a few friends on PC's, but iChatAV is rumored that it'll be ported to Windows by the end of the year.

[ljocampo]

bobw:

I checkout iSPQ as you suggested above, but I got the impression they're not very Mac friendly.  The Mac client doesn't have the better feature set that the PC client has, and updating it isn't their first priority.  Just checking out their FAQ shows who they're catering too.  Seems to me, that's the old AOL game.

Since unfortunately all my family are PC people, I think I'm going to wait for the PC version of iChat.  Apple won't pull that kind of your an underclass netizen B*S*.    

[bobw]

It's not that their not very Mac friendly, it's just that there are many more PC's in the world than Macs and ISPQ devotes more time to upgrading the PC versions first. ISPQ does work well, better than any other I've tried except iChat, and I've tried most. The big advantage of iChatAV is that you're not using someone's server to communicate, it's direct, and the sound is Duplex, like a phone, much better quality.

Like I said, it's "Rummored" that a Windows version of iChatAV will be avilable by the end of the year, no guarantees.

I talk regularly to a couple people using ISPQ, one in the UK and one in Australia with no problems, they both have PC's.

[ljocampo]

QUOTE

It's not that their not very Mac friendly, it's just that there are many more PC's in the world than Macs and ISPQ devotes more time to upgrading the PC versions first.

That's a Freudian defense mechanism (rationalization), if I ever heard one.  So it's OK to discriminate against a group of people because their in the minority?  Try this one.  Their greed and or indifference to the Mac comminity's needs, are OK and can be tolerated, because you can rationalize it.  Wake up.  

 

[bobw]

The company is putting out a product aimed at the majority of users first. This is what companies do.  You're response sounds like something an ass would say.

[george]

COOL IT BOYS
It was not my intention to create ill feeling, sorry I put the question.
George.