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[ArcadeStickMonk]

Need 2 good web cams and easy easy easy software for webconferencing.
MUST BE STANDALONE SOFTWARE. NO AIM SHIT

The plan is to set up some simple web conferencing between my mother and her grandchildren many states away. I've never messed with web cams before, but there's gotta be more options than the Creative and Logitechs I see on the Best Buy shelf.

For the cam itself, anything around $50, doesn't have to be awesome, just pretty good. Both locations have broadband so we're going to expect a solid signal. I am very adverse to using Creative, BTW.

For the software, it has to be easy to use. I mean, easy. Neither parties could even be considered advanced Windows users and I will not be able to set things up for the party states away. Ideally, the software would work with any camera, and could connect to the desired party via a saved shortcut.

AIM, MSN or any other software attached to a complex chat client is right out. These people are not going to learn how to use AIM just to web conference. I'm just starting to research this. Software like I want might not be available, but I think it is.

I appreciate any leads that are dropped my way. Remember that I said "please."

 

[mrkapawutzis]

I would recommend iSight, but you probably don't have a mac.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

NetMeeting

+

EyeToy

 

[Dkong]

I second that, the sharpness and refresh rate of the Eye Toy are amazing.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

^^

For the price.

Here are the drivers...

 

[SickBoy]

Will the eyetoy plug and play? Or are there some sort of drivers that need to be downloaded? I have some logitech software already on my system.

OK, NM

 

[Macam]

I would recommend iSight, but you probably don't have a mac.

I was going to suggest the same thing, but he makes it clear he's referring to Windows machines and that he doesn't want any AIM client software, which iChat uses via OSCAR I believe. I'm curious to hear replies though because though I have no experience with this sort of thing in particular, I'd be enthralled to hear of any Windows software that is as easy to use as he's looking for. I say that with sympathy as my own parents seem akin to his situation, but then I set them up with an iMac G5 which seems to be a substantial improvement -- of course, I scored a copy of Apple Remote Desktop 2 just in case

 

[Mejilan]

I need the same thing, only a firewire camera. Any ideas?

Or does the Eyetoy run well for video conferencing even via USB 1.1?