Welcome to Apple Discussions, CrimsonWave
You ask a number of questions. Lets address software first.
... Messenger Live program to talk/see video live and I was wondering if I would be able to do so as well ...
Your
PowerBook G4 and OS X 10.4.9 will work for you, but you may need some cooperation from your PC girlfriend and her family. Which software you should use depends upon whether you want to connect via (a) text instant messaging (IM) only, (b) text with video but no audio, or (c) video with audio in addition to text capability.
If your PC friends will consider using only "MSN Messenger Live"software, your options will have some limits.
Microsoft Messenger:Mac (MSMM) is a
text only app that will let you connect with your PC friends' "MSN Messenger Live". You cannot use any microphone or camera with MSMM for Mac. That is how MS writes the software.
There are two alternative clients of the MSMM server that can allow Mac video (
but not audio) with PC Microsoft/MSN/Live Messenger users:
Mercury Messenger for Mac
and
aMSN for Mac OS X
One of these two will be your best bet if you want video with PCs using the MSM network. Select the one you like best or find easiest to use.
If your PC friends are willing to consider using something other than "MSN Messenger Live" in order to connect with you for video with audio,
Skype may be worth discussing with them. Currently, the Skype alternative is probably the easiest way to connect for cross platform video chat with audio. However, both you and your PC friends will need to install your respective versions of Skype software.
Although Skype's web site mostly discusses its ability to call telephones from your computer for a fee, computer-to-computer calls, video chats, and text messaging are free. Skype's web site also offers a great "Help" section.
Having selected the software you and your PC friends will use, you can go on to choosing a camera.
...what webcams are recommended ...
I know you specifically ask about webcams, but many Mac compatible DV camcorders will work, at least for trying things out. That is how I made my first video chats. If you have a camcorder that will work with iMovie for capturing live video clips, it should work to let you start using with either Skype, aMSN, or Mercury Messenger.
As far as webcams go, you have many choices. If you are looking for a specific recommendation and do not need to use your webcam with iMovie, I have tested with a 10.4.9 user running
Xbox Live Vision Camera. This low-priced camera delivered a fine picture while we were using Apple's iChat AV, but the camera should work as well with most other applications.
Caution: If you might want to use your webcam with iMovie or other application programs that require Firewire DV input, you should select a compatible Firewire camera. UVC (USB) cameras will not work with those applications.
You can find more detailed information and links to other webcam alternatives in this recent post :
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4279637�
Finally, I strongly recommend that you select the software that you want to use, and then take your
PowerBook G4 along when you shop. Ty out the camera you want to buy in the store to be sure that it will work with each application that you want to use.
Cheers,
Jim
Mac OS X (10.4.9) G5 DP 1.8 External iSight
