How to SKYPE with Mac MINI (Dec 2005 purchase)?

Question

My sister wants to SKYPE with us using her Dec 2005 Mac MINI. I don't believe there is audio in via a jack (don't see it in the user guide I downloaded); and think maybe her best bet is a microphone (USB?) and then headsets or speaker via the audio OUT. (But there must be some speaker in the MINI??)
But what if she wants to do video SKYPE? Then is there a good FireWire combination VideoCamera/Microphone (like the iSight's that no longer exist)? -- or is it USB?
To summarize:
1. If I SKYPE her, can she hear me with a built-in speaker on the MINI - then reply via typing?
2. If she wants audio only - a microphone and which ones are compatible?
3. If she wants audio and video-- which FW or USB?
THANKS!
Steve

Answer 1

1. If I SKYPE her, can she hear me with a built-in speaker on the MINI - then reply via typing?
No. Only system beeps come out of mini. Sister needs to add headphones or external audio. I show examples available from the Apple Store below, but Sister can buy compatible items at most computer or electronics store if she wants a different compatible product:
• Headphones will give best chat results if she doesn't mind using them. Biggest benefits are hardly ever a problem with "echo" or audio feedback when chatting and can keep background noise out if you buy the noise canceling kind like these: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS233LL/A  There is a HUGE variety of choices available, but any that work with normal audio in will work.
• Some kind of amplified external Audio like this http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP719VC/A will give great results for chatting. Moreover, they give very good sound when listening to music/videos when she is not chatting or if she merely does not want to buy headphones. She can even connect a stereo or surround system like this http://store.apple.com/us/product/TK760VC/A to her mini's audio out if desired.
• USB speakers like these http://store.apple.com/us/product/TU032VC/A can also work, but they cannot play at high volume because they draw power from the computer. Therefore, Sister should NOT use this option unless she has very good hearing in a quiet area. I have a set of these USB speakers for traveling with my laptop, but they cannot play loud enough for listening to music at levels I enjoy.
2. If she wants audio only - a microphone and which ones are compatible?
I use this Logitech: http://store.apple.com/us/product/T6831LL/A
It works very well, but any other Skype compatible USB mic should, too.
3. If she wants audio and video-- which FW or USB?
For Skype, I suggest USB.
If Sister's Mac OS is OS X 10.4.9 or greater, any USB webcam that meets "UVC" specs, like this one from the Apple Store will work: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS665VC/A
If Sister's Mac OS is OS X 10.4.9 or greater, any other UVC webcams, including the webcams that Skype sells at http://shop.skype.com/ should work equally well.
(If Sister's Mac OS is 10.4.8 or earlier, she should update to 10.4.11. Doing so will make choice of webcams much simpler.
Of course, Sister's system must meet Skype's minimum system requirements at bottom of this page:
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/
EZ Jim
G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.6) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)   iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight