Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

USB Webcam For The Mac

Aug 21, 2006 1:30AM PDT

Hey Guys! I am a Windows user that just ordered a mac online a few days ago and it occured to me that the included firewire webcam will not work with msn messenger for the mac. I am not a user that complains about using MSN on the mac because I am both PC and mac user so I can stick with msn. I would still like to keep having video conversations with my msn buddies (although I already have a ton of iChat buddies) and I would like to know if there is actually any USB webcam's for the mac. I've hunted and hunted and havn't found anything. A laptop webcam would be prefered but if I have to I will use a desktop webcam. Thanks C|Net!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Microsoft msn messenger for Mac does not presently support
Aug 21, 2006 1:40AM PDT

Microsoft msn messenger for Mac does not presently support webcams.

This applies to ANY webcam you might buy for your mac.
However, some note success using amsn or msn mercury, which are free msn 'clones' which let you use your mac to talk to pc users on the msn network.

Hope this helps,

Bob

- Collapse -
USB Cameras for Mac
Aug 21, 2006 3:09AM PDT

I have the same scenario as you, this link may help.
Bob is correct on MSN, I even e mailed them and they currently do not have any plans to update current firmware for messenger. Too bad MSN Live would be awsome on a Mac. I will try Bob's tip on AMSN and and the other clone.

If you need a link for USB Camera's that support Mac:

http://www.ioxperts.com/products/webcamx.html

- Collapse -
You've already bought one
Aug 21, 2006 4:46AM PDT

It sounds to me as if you may have ordered a MacBook. If so, it has an iSignt camera built in.

- Collapse -
I wish
Aug 21, 2006 7:27AM PDT

No I have a vintage Powerbook G3 Bronze Keyboard, nice unit but it needs a usb camera, I currently have a creative camera but either have to buy another or find a driver that will work on the camera for my Mac.

Gilbert

- Collapse -
Drivers from IOxperts
Aug 21, 2006 9:00AM PDT
- Collapse -
FIREWIRE
Sep 2, 2006 12:28AM PDT

iSight is a FIREWIRE CAM... It's too eliete to run on a pc thats why you don't see people going out and buying this amazing webcam for thir Dell's and Hp's

- Collapse -
Only this Logitech webcam works on Macs besides iSight
Aug 25, 2006 12:17PM PDT

Like you, I searched hard and finally found the only USB webcam that works on Macs. It is the Logitech Quickcam Notebook Pro, earlier model. It has been around about 4 years and you have to search hard to buy it. Looks like Logitech doesn't produce them anymore. It works on my Windows PCs and also installs very easily on my Macbook and iBook.

The iSight webcam built-in the MacBook is picky and only works with iChat and limits your opporunity of video conferencing with Windows users who may use a host of other video conf software, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, etc. You can get the Mac driver download from here:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/downloads/software/US/EN,CRID=1794,contentid=6024


I have tested the latest webcams from Logitech and none of the high end ones can match this older model in sharpness and natural colors.

There is a website that claims to supply drivers to make certain webcams work on Macs but, as you see on the website, many users encountered problems.

User reviews on the Logitech:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00006LIOM/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/104-0203452-6378356?ie=UTF8&customer-reviews.sort%5Fby=-SubmissionDate&n=172282

Good luck!

- Collapse -
Well, there is another USB webcam that works on Macs
Oct 24, 2006 2:28PM PDT
- Collapse -
skype
Oct 25, 2006 2:17AM PDT

I don't think that the msn for mac has webcam capibilities, however you can download skype which will let you have video conversations with your friends, although they will also need to download skype to do it.

- Collapse -
MSN on Mac
Oct 28, 2006 1:26AM PDT

If you've bought an iMac or macbook, they have a built in camera! The open source aMSN(get it from sourceforge) supports MSN video(but not sound unfortunately). If you have a firewire buiilt in camera, you can use bootcamp, stick XP on, and it will work fine. I don't know if the same applies to parallels - be nice if it did because you then avoid a reboot.

The Macam driver(v 0.8.7 is the latest I believe) supports many USB webcams - the site(sourceforge again) lists a whole raft of models