I am looking to purchase a monitor for a Power Mac G4 OR a Web cam that is compatible with the the Power Mac G4.

Question

I have a G4 Power Mac without the original monitor - I am using a monitor from a PC that does not have a built in webcam. I have also tried a "Blue" brand webcam that was received as a gift for me that does not work...and went to best buy to buy a compatable one and they had none that they thought would work w/ the G4 power mac  What are my options? Ideally the cheapest would be a compatable webcam. any thoughts/suggestions? or thoughts about where to get a replacement original monitor.
thanks!

Answer 1

HI,
ON the cam front.
The OS will support UVC compliant camera (USB Video Class) since 10.4.9  in iChat (Slightly earlier in other apps)
The issue for older G4 macs is that these are always USB 2.0 cameras (Used to be marked "Vista Ready" or "Certified" as Windows went USB 2.0 about the same time).
I have a G4/1ghz Dual Processor tower (So called Mirrored Doors)
This can have extra PCI cards and have installed one with 4 USB 2.0 ports  (Remove blank, insert and secure with screw and away it went)
Nowadays virtually any USB webcam will be UVC compliant and USB 2.0  (Meaning no Windows or Mac Drivers to download and Install)
The abilities of the Drivers in the OS do vary between Windows and Macs of this age.  (Lion on Intels does bring face tracking).
Anyways, once you solve the USB 2.0 input issue then virtually any USB 2.0 camera will work including the X-Box 360 cam or a PalyStation 3 one
Firewire
The Original External iSight was of course Firewire.
There were a number of other around the same time (Until USB cameras took over).
This means that some DV convertors that use Firewire to get Analogue CamCorders signals into a Mac will work (some digital camcorders may not produce a DV signal as such and will need a convertor)
The camera may have options on it's playback that mean it can be in 4:3 ratio if used with iChat.  It also cannot be HDV (or any propriatary form)  (You have to have an Intel and Lion/iChat 6 for HD).
Of course some DV camcorders  do use Firewire to connect to a computer  (although this has dropped off as USB 2.0 is actually slightly faster)
iMovie will accept many more formats than iChat will but you were talking about Web Cams.
NOTES 
You may find sites still trading the external iSight.  They are going to be at least 8 years old now and you will need to check so how that they are working
USB 1.1
If you can find a USB 1.1 Camera for sale or tucked in a drawer  it will need two things:-
1) A Mac Driver
2) This Utility for iChat http://www.ecamm.com/mac/iusbcam/
Some manufacturers did have web sites with Downloads.
The Camera Guide page at Ecamm shows the links to two third Party Drivers from macam and IOXperts.
You will note the first Ecamm page says that iUSBCam does not work in Snow Leopard but you specs do say you are using Leopard (10.5)
Back to Screens
My tower has a card that supports two monitors.
The one I bought with my Tower was the Studio Display (Same Acrylic type surround to the screen as the Tower).  (It does have USB 1.1 ports on the back)
This used the then Apple Display Connector (ADC)
It also had a DVI output.
Ergo any DVI Screen will work.
As to whether a  DVI screen/display with a camera can use that DVI connector to feed the Camera to the Mac I don't know.
9:27 PM      Saturday; December 24, 2011
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