What to expect to pay for a new/used iSight?

Question

What were these iSight cameras selling for brand new when Apple sold them?
Why did they discontinue it?
I have the 30" ACD, should I invest in a new/used one from ebay or somewhere?
What price should I expect to pay?
Would it be better to get a different camera from Logitech or something, thats cheaper and better?

Answer 1

Chris McCord wrote:
What were these iSight cameras selling for brand new when Apple sold them?
I paid $129 (USD) plus tax when my Rev A external iSight was new (about 5 years ago.)
Why did they discontinue it?
The Terms of Use for Discussions prohibit speculation on decisions.
I have the 30" ACD, should I invest in a new/used one from ebay or somewhere?
Unless you can physically examine and test an external iSight, I would not buy one now.
External iSight is a great camera, but they are getting old as electronics go, and you have no idea how the one you buy now has been used or treated by its previous owner(s).
I suggest that you buy locally and test any external iSight you are considering on your Mac before you pay for it. That way you know whether it will work, and a local seller may be able to answer questions, if any, about connecting and using iSight before you buy.
If you find one locally, use the following suggestions to test the external iSight before you buy:
  http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
Even if the external iSight you are considering is advertised as an NOS (new, old-stock) iSight, it is not likely covered by Apple Warranty. If the seller does not provide you written service guarantees or warranty, you may be want to check Apple's iSight Service: Frequently Asked Questions, especially if you cannot test the iSight before you buy to be sure it is working.
If you are interested, see this example regarding using a used external iSight:
  http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9464955
What price should I expect to pay?
Searching eBay can show you what others have paid, but I know no way to predict what you should expect.
If you consider buying an untested external iSight via an on-line auction or other internet seller, I strongly suggest that you (try to) get a written guarantee that you can have the iSight examined by your Apple Authorized Service Provider and can have a refund or exchange if the iSight doesn't pass his checks. Such a warranty might effect your purchase price.
Would it be better to get a different camera from Logitech or something, thats cheaper and better?
Yes.
That would be my recommendation. To cheaper and better, you can add is covered by a current warranty.
Any of the UVC webcams recommended in the following link can work with your posted System Info without any additional software or drivers:
  http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.2)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight