My boss would like to do one-on-one video conferencing with our remote market offices. Since these are not going to be groups of people at either end, paying $5000.00 a piece for PolyCom video conferencing units isn't very cost effective.
What I would like to do is just purchase a webcam, speakers and desktop mic for the hardware. What I am wondering is what software to use. The remote markets are all PC based, not Mac, so using iChat is out of the question. We do have a copy of NetMeeting with each install of XP, but some have suggested using Skype.
Has anyone here had any experience with either of these programs? If you have, can you fill me in on what you feel are the pluses and minuses of these? If there are any other video conferencing apps you'd like to suggest, feel free.
======================== Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds stupidity. Knowledge is the key to overcoming your fears
The only fish in a stream that just "go with the flow" are the dead ones
Posts: 1198 | Location: Clawson, MI USA | Registered: July 25, 2002
While Skype may be popular, it's a resource hog that poses security hazards. I've tried it, but gave up. I use Little Snitch and actually had to turn it off while Skype was active due to the traffic it caused.
Posts: 2900 | Location: Redford, MI | Registered: June 10, 2002
Usually Skype works great for me except when it seems I really need it the most. There is another program Andy Ihnatko from MacWorld/MacUser recommended on the MacBreak Weekly podcast called the Gizmo Projcet. He endorsed it saying it works better for him. I haven't tried it myself.
Actually - From what I've been reading lately, Windows Live Messenger (a.k.a MSN Messenger) seems to have the highest frame rates and the least amount of complaints (at least on the PC side). I'm open to any software that works, So maybe I'll just try them all and see what works best.
======================== Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds stupidity. Knowledge is the key to overcoming your fears
The only fish in a stream that just "go with the flow" are the dead ones
Posts: 1198 | Location: Clawson, MI USA | Registered: July 25, 2002
Windows Live Messenger: Video picture was good but horrible frame rates! Probably less than 5 FPS I'm guessing. Sound also kept cutting in and out. I also could find no way to enlarge the frame to full screen, although I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking for it.
Skype: A lot more like iChat Video. Picture isn't so hot, very pixelated but much higher frame rates. Enlarging to full screen was no problem (easy mouse click) and the sound was a lot better.
That's what I've noticed so far.
======================== Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds stupidity. Knowledge is the key to overcoming your fears
The only fish in a stream that just "go with the flow" are the dead ones
Posts: 1198 | Location: Clawson, MI USA | Registered: July 25, 2002
