Product Description

Macally IceCam is a light, portable USB video web camera. It works with Yahoo! Messenger and iChatAV, etc. Macally IceCam gives you endless way to have fun.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10354 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Macally
• Model: ICECAM
• Platform: Mac
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Features

• Works with Yahoo! Messenger and iChatAV
• Perfect for internet Video & Image Capture
• Interface: USB 1.1
• Flexible cable design for easy height and angle positioning
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP; Any Macintosh desktop or powerbook computer with an built-in USB port

From the Manufacturer
Macally IceCam is a light, portable USB video web camera. It works with Yahoo! Messenger and iChatAV, etc. Macally IceCam gives you endless way to have fun.

Features

• Works with Yahoo! Messenger and iChatAV,etc
• Perfect for internet Video & Image Capture
• Ideal companion to Macally's iVoiceII USB microphone
• Lightweight and portable for travelers
• Flexible cable design for easy height and angle positioning
• Built-in status LED indicator
• IceCam supports iChatAV through third party software iChatUSBCAM

Specifications

• Interface: USB 1.1
• Image sensor: 100K Pixels CMOS Sensor (CIF)
• Effective resolution: Up to 352 x 288
• Frames rate: Up to 30 FPS at CIF mode
• Focus: Adjustable, 20cm ~ infinity
• White balance & exposure control: Auto
• Flexible-Neck length: 14.5" (37cm)
• 1 year warranty

System Requirements

• Mac OS 9.2, Mac OS 10.2, Mac OS 10.3
• Any Macintosh desktop or powerbook computer with an built-in USB port
• Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP
• Pentium II 400MHz/ compatible PC or above with an available USB port

Customer Reviews

Good for what it does, just don't expect miracles.
I bought one of these for my mother to use with iChat AV and Mac OS X 10.3. With the addition of Ecamm's "iChatUSBCam" software (not included) it does work quite nicely, given the limitations of this USB camera and assuming you don't go into full screen mode. Physically, the camera is hardly imposing at all. The actual camera itself is slightly smaller than, say, a Bic lighter. The cable to connect it to your computer is strengthened; you bend the wire like a coat hanger to position the camera. The good thing is this makes the camera infinitely positionable. The bad thing is if you want to use this as a desk camera you'll find even the slightest vibration makes the camera wobble. I've found that if you wrap the wire around a solid object like a desk support, the camera becomes significantly more stable. Of course, this camera is really intended for travel use which makes all of this pretty well moot. IMAGE QUALITY: Image quality is decent for a USB camera but it won't win any awards. It does NOT like shadows or dimly lit areas; artifacting becomes a problem when lighting goes down. Given proper lighting conditions it produces an acceptable image. The ring around the lens allows you to focus it, but since the aperature is so tiny those with large hands may find it difficult to adjust. Macally has VERY good customer support and has historically been very Macintosh friendly. BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a cheap (Mac-friendly) webcam and you're not terribly concerned about premium image quality, this is a good way to go.

Best Option for OS X 10.4
You only have two choices if you're running OS X 10.4. You can get the Isight for $150.00 or you can get the Macally Icecam for about $30.00.

The Macally gets the job done with just a few drawbacks. 1) You have to buy a driver online for which there comes a coupon when you buy the camera. 2.) The USB cable is only about 15in. long.

It works with Mac OS 10.4.6
It works with OS10.4.6 without buying anything else, although you need install an attached driver in your computer. To the best of my knowledge, this is the most reasonable webcam for Mac users. The design of the webcam and the image quality are not that great, but I find it satisfactory to show your family/friends how well you look.