Can not turn on isight in AIM Windows

Question

I can not get built in isight to turn on in AIM 6.0 or 5.9 in windows on my macbook pro. I am using boot camp and windows XP Pro. I have set prefs to use isight and all the tests turn on isight camera but not when using AIM. We are trying to comunicate with nephew in service who only has windows and so far AIM is the only thing that I can find that supports Audio/video. Thanks Carl

Answer 1

Hi Carl.
Until someone who uses a macbook pro posts an answer, I can offer a couple of alternatives.
(1) If your nephew in service who has windows can install AIM 5.9 on his PC, your Mac's iChat application can connect to him. Some users report difficulty making the connection, but for most of us, iChat on a Mac works fine for text and AV connections with an XP Pro PC running AIM 5.9.
AIM 5.9 does not support audio only to iChat.
AIM Triton / AIM 6.x does NOT work with iChat.
Reboot your Mac into OS X and launch iChat. You can use your existing AIM account name to log in to AIM via iChat. If you need more setup help than your Mac's iChat > iChat Help gives you, see this setup guide.
A note for readers considering the FREE dot Mac account name mentioned in the linked setup guide. The free dot Mac trial name or your existing dot Mac account name will continue to work as an iChat account name even if you let your paid dot Mac account lapse or decide not to pay for dot Mac features at the end of the 60 day trial. Your dot Mac screen-name will continue to work as an iChat name even after the trial period ends and your other dot Mac services expire.
(2) If you have difficulty with the iChat <-> AIM 5.9 connection, and if your nephew is authorized to load other applications on his PC, you can use Skype. You will need to download and install the OS X version of Skype, and your nephew will download and install the version for Windows XP Pro.
Many who post here report that Skype offers easier cross-platform connections. In my testing, Skype video chat is usually of lower quality than iChat's, but it is certainly useable if iChat cannot make a viable connection.
Although Skype's web site mostly discusses its ability to call telephones from your computer for a fee, computer-to-computer calls, video chats, and text messaging are free. Skype's web site also offers a great help section.
If you cannot get your XP software working, you might consider these alternatives.
Cheers.
Jim
  Mac OS X (10.4.8)    G5 DP 1.8   External iSight