# Mac users - anyone using webcam with chat/VOIP programmes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427 "2005-11-23T15:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/1 "2005-11-23T15:49:16Z")
I hope this hasn’t been asked before. I searched the forums and read the sticky so here goes: I’m a relatively new Mac user, and recently acquired a webcam. I’d like to be able to use it in conjunction with Skype or some other chat/voip programme to communicate with my parents (who are PC users). Skype doesn’t have this yet, and other programmes like [www.video4im.com](http://www.video4im.com) are stll not available for Mac. I can’t download Yahoo Messenger for Mac onto my laptop, no matter how many times I try. I have MSN messenger for Mac but it does not appear to have a webcam option. I still need to investigate iChat - but is this available to PC users? Is there something obvious I’m missing here? What do other Mac users do? ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/2 "2005-11-24T01:45:13Z")
bump! All I got in response is the Google ad for yahoo messenger which is a little galling. I see now I should have appealed to the heartstrings, something about letting my parents see their grandchild… No tender hearted dopers with useful advice? ---
**Author:** ![SiouxChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@SiouxChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiouxChief)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/3 "2005-11-24T02:03:34Z")
I have a Logitech webcam, and use it with Yahoo Messenger for video chat on Mac OSX 10.4. Works pretty well! What problem did you have installing it on your laptop? What version of OSX are you running? I also use the webcam to occasionally post pictures to my web site. For this purpose I use [Evocam](http://www.evological.com/evocam.html), which is awesome, and well worth the registration fee. Evocam doesn’t do video chat, though, as far as I know. Yahoo is probably your best solution. Post your problem with installation, and we’ll see if we can help you out. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/4 "2005-11-24T11:16:15Z")
Thanks **SiouxChief** , I use Mac OS X version 10.4.3 - I’ll go for the upgrade and see if that makes a difference. Every time I try to download Yahoo Messenger, I get a file that looks like an Excel file which doesn’t launch the installation process. I’ve tried it off the [yahoo.com](http://yahoo.com) and [yahoo.co.uk](http://yahoo.co.uk) sites and the Macintosh site, and the same thing happens each time. When I downloaded MSN messenger, the process was identical and it worked fine. I was in touch with Yahoo help, but their reply was simply a cut and paste from the instructions on the site, and didn’t address my particular problem. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/5 "2005-11-24T12:33:38Z")
> [@Martha](#): > > Thanks **SiouxChief** , > I use Mac OS X version 10.4.3 - I’ll go for the upgrade and see if that makes a difference. > > Every time I try to download Yahoo Messenger, I get a file that looks like an Excel file which doesn’t launch the installation process. I’ve tried it off the [yahoo.com](http://yahoo.com) and [yahoo.co.uk](http://yahoo.co.uk) sites and the Macintosh site, and the same thing happens each time. When I downloaded MSN messenger, the process was identical and it worked fine. I was in touch with Yahoo help, but their reply was simply a cut and paste from the instructions on the site, and didn’t address my particular problem. The OSX download on [this page](http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/download/mac.html) works fine to me, downloading a non-archived installer. Is this the one you’re having problems with? It sounds to me that you’re downloading an archived (compressed) file and don’t have the necessary software to unarchive it. If you haven’t already, you should download [Stuffit Expander](http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/) which I believe Apple have now ceased to include in a standard OSX install. Expander provides much the same functionality (and more) as something like Winzip on Windows. A couple of other points. The MSN Messenger client for OSX doesn’t support video chat (as you’ve probably figured out). iChat supports AIM accounts as well as the Jabber format in addition to .Mac accounts. OB ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/6 "2005-11-24T13:23:17Z")
Problem solved, **Oswald Bastable**. You’re a star, and I bet you’re somewhere near, or in Crouch End. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-users-anyone-using-webcam-with-chat-voip-programmes/332427/7 "2005-11-24T13:41:19Z")
> [@Martha](#): > > Problem solved, **Oswald Bastable**. > You’re a star, and I bet you’re somewhere near, or in Crouch End. 😉 Haringey Ladder… Though currently at work in Islington. OB