SKYPE setup suggestions

On my iMac (built in camera), I use the Jabber application (already on your mac) with a gmail account. I video chat lots of times, and works great. No Skype needed.

Why kind of Mac do they have?

 

Your Mac has a built in camera, correct? Are you already using Skype? [For video conferencing?]

I assume your parents are on a Windows based PC that doesn't have a camera?

If my assumptions are true, why do *they* even need a camera? [Unless you want to see them of course! ]

If they want the grandkids to see them there are plenty of low cost (USB based) cameras that will suffice, but my point is they may not need one......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Interesting! Are you sure the jabber client was "pre-installed"? I'm pretty sure it wasn't on mine, but then it is ~100 years old

If the parents have also have a Mac, hopefully with a built in camera, forget all these "third party" solutions and just use good old iChat.....

Incidentally, me and the boys back in the UK have, and use, both Skype and iChat (they're also on Macs of course ). One really cool feature of iChat that's not in Skype is the ability to have a 3-way video conference - Me in CA, one in Birmingham and the other in London - Works almost as well as the multi-thousand $$ Cisco telepresence system, for free!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I think so... it was on mine, Luca's and Mrs. JRR's right out of the box. Yes, I've done the video conference with multiple people too. It's amazing this stuff "just works" so easily. Sadly, when I chat luca, he spends more time playing with the crazy backdrops (roller coaster, moon rise, fish, etc) than anything else.

 

iChat has the ability to add Jabber accounts, probably what he means.

 

Oh, maybe that's it. It's an icon that looks like a carton balloon. Worked like a champ, right out of the box... so I didn't take detailed notice of the application's formal name. I use it every single day, lots and lots of times.

 

Get a cheap USB netcam for them. Should be a snap.

 

You mean like the pic below? That's good old iChat.

As Daniel noted, a cheap USB webcam will do the trick as long as they've got an unused USB port - Should be pretty much "plug & pray" in the usual Micro$oft fashion.

However, as I said above, *they* don't need a camera if they just want to look at the kids.... Get 'em to download Skype, call you (or vice-cersa) and they can open your video feed - No camera required at their end!

Good luck, cheers,
Ian
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You're welcome! We often have chats where only one end has video.....

*That's* an entirely different issue!

Cheers,
Ian

 

The roller coaster is cool though!...... It is amazing (to me anyway) that we can do this stuff:

a - Easily
b - For free!

Gotta love bandwidth! [At least if you own Cisco stock ]

Cheers,
Ian

 

I got an AiGuru SV1T from Asus for $200 on eBay.

Aside from adding another device to the line up, Logitech cams are ported in Skype, so you will get the best quality with like a Quickcam Pro or Orbit. Very easy to install, excellent quality.