Logitech's flagship QuickCam Vision Pro is Mac only
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jun 24th 2008 4:50AM
posted Jun 24th 2008 4:50AM
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When will logitech make a competitor to the Playstation Eye?
Never! Tell me your e-mail to send you OS X Drivers (My mom works for Sony)
I don't own a Playstation eye, and I have a built in webcam.
Thanks though!
Hi
I wouldn't mind getting some of that Playstation eye magic on my Mac Pro! :)
Loooks like a landscape PENIS.
As far as I knew, Macs have built in Webcams (iSight)
When did this change?
Mac Pros don't. Even if they had, assuming you have that thing standing under your desk, you'd have to crawl around on the floor whenever you have a video conference.
My Powerbook, btw., doesn't have a built-in iSight either.
As stated in post "your MacBook which of course have featured an integrated webcam for the last few years." RTFA
So yes they do.
Why would anyone want 2 webcams on one computer?
Mac Minis don't.
This is a perfect add-on for a Mini to make it a safe, easy-to-use mother-in-law machine...now she can Skype in to watch the grandkids once in a while (and they can now see and hear her as well).
weg: WRONG
@frozo, please post either a link to a Mac Pro that has an iSight, or a picture of weg's PowerBook. I think it is quite amusing that you are wrong about posting "WRONG".
Logitech won't sell too many of these. Its too expansive for Mac Mini users and there is only so many out there who have Mac Pro's. Also, its almost not worth it to buy a nice new webcam like this for your rapidly agging Mac without a built in camera. Very surprising that they are limiting themselves like this.
I guess Mac users would like a webcam that doesn't blow. Last time I checked, my MBP's iSight was pretty pathetic.
very dirty indeed...
Wow, thats a lot of money for something that is intergrated into most new macs!
In Macbooks and iMacs. Not in mac Minis nor in Mac Pros. And even when you own a Macbook, a 2nd camera might be useful - when I work at the desk, I use a bigger TFT and the Macbook's isght would be at an inconvenient angle.
Well, firstly this new webcam would be higher quality than a (admittedly, amazingly tiny) built in iSight - especially if you're on a first-gen MacBook as I am. Secondly(ish), I believe it's higher quality (pixel-wise) than any current built in iSight. Also, the fact that it's bigger overall must mean something.
That, and as someone else already said, it's not built in. This means two things - first, that you can put it anywhere, so you're not restricted to just the view from the top of your Mac's built in display. Also, being separate from the body of the machine means that, on laptops, it's less likely to pick up as much typing noise. Plus the microphone should be better anyway, again due to size.
Finally, the amount it costs must count for something!
Sam
Oh, two other points. The first is that it's autofocus - the built in iSights are all fixed focus, AFAIK. Secondly, I would very much hope it copes better with indoor lighting that the built in iSights. This may have improved with the current crop of iSights - but I'm on a first-gen MacBook so I'm a bit behind in that respect.
If these come out in the UK, I will seriously consider buying one.
Sam
Where there is mac there is greed. These companies know that Mac users won't mind shelling out 130 dollars for a camera. Well most of them. People like me as well who have got so frustrated with lack of camera support in Mini and last gen Powerbook. Even after spending solid 2000 dollars on two computers, my dream of having perfect system is unfulfilled. Don't curse me for not trying those hacks like ichatUSB. They suck and don't work.
in fact every mac except the mac mini and the mac pro has a built in webcam so it is absolutely not logic to sell this webcam mac only
...and thats whay they made it, to be used on Mac Minis, Mac Pros, and older PPC macs.
Its funny , the Fusion Pro works fine on my Mac mini with IO driver , but Logitech is unable to supply a decent driver for it .
But you can't play Crysis on MAC's computers!
Actually, yes you can. Boot Camp. I played and beat it on my Mac.
Ever Heard of 'Boot Camp?'
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html
And what does a Webcam have to do with Crysis.
Please Explain, I've been living under my rock since the birth of Jesus.
To me, using Windows on a Mac defeats the purpose of paying so much for a Mac.
Correct, You can't play Crysis on a MAC address. Oh wait, you mean a Apple Mac?
I'm sure it would run beautifully on very high on a single 8800GT which is all a Crap Pro supports.
I took my windows harddrive out and installed MAC OSX Leopard on my PC, installed boot camp installed crysis on my windows on my mac on my pc on my mac on my windows on on my pc INFINITE LOOP
so if you don't realize that there's really no difference yet (except I've come to find mac more sleek and organized, and office 2008 is kind of cool) then you are sheep.
@kurian:
i cant seem to remember what computer was rated the fastest running windows vista.... hmmm, oh yeah! i remember A MAC! (or Crap Pro as you call it)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136649-page,3-c,notebooks/article.html
@ avdesign4. That was a limited test, by the way, the key statement is "was rated highest".
What is this Crysis everyone is talking about?
I have absolutely no respect for anyone who calls an apple computer a "MAC"
that's like calling a PC an "IBM COMPATIBLE"
what decade are you from?
@Jeff:
Well, then I have no respect for someone that is so anal as to care.
Well, does Apple make any computers that aren't Macs?
By making it Mac-only they can double the price (130$!) and it will still sell because mac users will feel privileged :D
Did the last 4 years fly right over your head?
☺
The premium pricing partly reflects the very small size of this niche market.
The Windows version (QuickCam Pro 9000) is only $67 at Amazon. The only thing that makes this Mac Only is the price... It seems that the Windows community does not settle for price gouging while the Apple guys gladly embrace it.
Im sure they have their reasons logitech are not stupid to not allow max market. Unless they are being stupid but they've been brilliant so far.
I was referring to the Mac's released in the last 2-3 years.
Also, Mac Pro's don't really need iSight, they are mostly used for High end Video/Audio Rendering and Photo editing, and there are much cheaper solutions if you are that desperate for a Webcam for your Mac Pro.
I think that you may have already known what I meant, Just wanted to clarify my meaning.
Sorry everyone.
That Comment^^ was aimed at Weg.
Forgot to click Reply.
Sorry again
not everyone wants a machine that can't really be upgraded (i.e. mini or imac).. if I were to go Mac and had enough dough, it would be the pro. the mini is nice, but someone who only wants to spend 600-ish on the machine is not going to drop close to a quarter of that on a webcam and those with an imac really have no use for it anyway.
ever known business types/gadget fiends to want a high-end machine? ever known business types/gadget fiends to want to video conference?
so, saying that there's really no use for it on a Pro is just your perspective. yes, you're correct about cheaper options... but those options don't come with a name-brand, glass, auto-focus lens with a 2.0 mp camera... the add-on iSight doesn't even boast those specs and I think it's still at.. what.. 100 bucks? not to mention that it looks like a potato gun.
Oh deat, where to start, I use my Mac Pro as a backup machine for my MBP and still would like to have another camera. Yeah, of ourse there are cheaper solutions, but really, compared to the price of a Mac Pro, it's only a minor matter.
it may be a good idea for apple displays but it's not clean enough to look good on it so that kills it for me. it looks bulky. why not just stick your digicam on the thing!
Uh...that's why the photo shows it on top of the cinema display.
Yes, I know my MacBook has an iSight camera, but this makes sense for anyone who uses an external display. I do wish Apple to come up with a Cinema Display with build-in iSight though.
They probably will.
:-)
I can see the use if the sound and image quality are exceptionally good, because they're not all that amazing on the built-in iSights unless you have a brightly and evenly lit computer space. I know I don't.
There is actually a huge market of people who have been left out in the cold waiting on Apple to come out with another webcam solution to the first generation iSight camera which was external and mounted on top of your display.... and now goes for a hefty price on eBay.
The pricing and features are actually pretty impressive. This would definitely be a good add-on to my PowerMac G4 (which still runs better and faster than my wife's 1-year old PC in every application).
It's the first time ( in my Mac life ) I can read " Mac Only "... For years, all kind of stuff was PC only ... what a change !
Eh, someone will make Windows drivers, it's not a big deal.
Why, when you just need to buy the QuickCam Pro 9000 which is essentially all this is! Oh and cheaper ;-)
Hot diggity, Taomyn.
How exactly do you say your name?
Yeah I was just going to say that too, Windows drivers, firmware flash, its all good.
I recently connected my original iSight camera to my Macbook which has the built in version. I found the iSight to be way better esp in lower light conditions the difference was very easy to see - even colors were better. Maybe this is due to the iSights larger lens/aperture.
However even if this is a better than built in product i agree it has limited appeal. I have 2 Cinema displays on my Mac Pro but i wouldnt buy this because i use that machine for music production and i dont want or need a camera.
Seems like a weird decision - wonder how it could be made Mac only if its PnP?
Looks like a great solution for those without built-in cams.
Let's get something straight, of the desktop Macs, only the iMac has iSight built in. That cam would be too big for a notebook anyway.
Mac Mini and - in particular - Pros are the target consumer. Seems a small market, but then it's a premium product. Up to them if they don't want the great unwashed masses of Windows users to buy it, I guess.
It just reminds me of an iPod dock, really... Especially back when iTunes wasn't on PC.
Mac stopped making external iSights a while ago and Logitech have filled the niche that made. The current iSight software is also pretty crappy when it comes to ligting adjustments (outside of the special effects) so by adding a decent control app they can make many a would-be Mac anchorman's dreams come true.
Additionally the built-in camera on the iMac is a touch inpractical as you have to move the whole screen to adjust the angle. With the external, if you wanted to show your nerdy pals the woman next door watering the plants in her bikini you just lifted it up and pointed it out the bedroom window. Nowadays you need to benchlift a whole 24" screen and lug it to the window which, combined with your heavy breathing, may draw a little attention.
ya know, two cameras at once really does make a good edit if your doing a preview or a show. plus the iSight is not made anymore. it's just another alternative for the creative needs. there will always be a personal market for the obscure cool need factor.
They pretty much make the exact same thing for PC's, it's called the quickcam pro 9000, and it looks exactly like this one in design and specs, other than the color. I would know, I'm looking right at mine sitting on top of my monitor. I think it's kind of dumb to get this for a Mac though, unless you really really need a higher quality webcam.
Sam gets it right. This is the SAME as the Quickcam Pro 9000. It's HARDLY flagship. The Orbit is more flagship than this webcam. :P
As long as you don't need to use Logitech drivers to make this thing work then this is all good. If you need to install Logitech-written drivers to make this thing work then it's time to run for the exit. The Logitech Control Center drivers for their mice are an abomination that should be swiftly replaced with a 3rd party driver.
I don't know why this is said to be mac only i have one of those exact cameras on my comp right now on windows vista. Unless they made a mac version of it.
Anyway my dell laptop has a 2mp camera built in and this logitech one is much much much better then the built in one.
hmmm......Mac Only?! may be logitech made the wrong bet.....thinking that psystar's ugly clones' customers may need , but they won't since they'll be able to find a webcam for 10 bucks or less.
Then why price it high?!%&$#$$$
Could it be that the advanced features of the web cam are better supported on this version with the Mac than with the other (9000) version? Like being able to use that stuff without a driver. I could be wrong but that's what it seems like to me. Either way I don't see why the hostility. There are tons of web cams that work on a Windows PC.. this is just one that is Mac specific. Also like others have noted there are plenty of Macs that don't have built in iSights.. at least until Apple releases an Apple Cinema Display that has one. As far as I know they aren't in a hurry to do that though.
To be honest I'd think it was a bit odd if it really did only work in OS X. Unless they put in hardware that specifically detects that it's running on Windows and rejects it.
Every mac comes with a friggin' webcam, so what is the point of this? So people who shell out 4 grand for a Mac Pro can webcam their family on Saturn? Makes no sense...I vote logitech off the island
Did you even read any of the other comments? The mini, and Pro don't have built in web cams.
Wow.. Logitech...
Thumbs up!!! How incredible! I can't imagine that we can still have such awful "Mac-only" expensive accessories which doesn't worth much.
I'm a Mac user, and I'd get something with USB Video Class instead.
It seems as though some people don't like to read comments before they mouth off the same redundant shit. Then again, maybe they just want to hear themselves speak or get it off their chest.
In that case, tell em why yer mad son!!! tell em why yer mad.
*sighs*
MY HACKINTOSH DIDN'T COME WITH A WEBCAM
but i already had one when my computer was windows... so. yeh i'm good.
this is stupid.. to make it only for mac. one would thought that good research would reveal that almost 80% of macs now have a built in camera
I have a Mac Pro and needed a cam. So five months ago I purchase the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (as previous posts mention). It works out of the box, no drivers needed. The only thing that doesn't work are the Logitech filters and goofy app they bundle for PCs, but as a mac user, you don't need it since we have PhotoBooth.
From what I can tell, the spec's are identical. So for the premium price you'll be paying for a new "aluminum" paint job and probably that software, and as those of us with Logitech mice/keyboards on a mac know, Logitech can't write software for the mac. So the best bet is to just buy the QuickCam Pro.
I'm using the exact same Pro 9000 on my mac at home and my XP machine at work. I see absolutely NOTHING different here except the price.
The Pro 9000 is a USBVC cam, so it works out of the box on Mac, which is one of the main reasons I bought it.
Yes but the question is will it automatically override the pre-existing camera in the Macbook? I currently have to turn on the camera in iChat to make it busy in order to use my Quickcam with any other application. Sucks!
Isn't this the same as the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, just Mac Only instead of Windows only.
Anyway I have the Pro 9000, and it a wonderful webcam.
As a mac user, I accept that I'm elitist, but I don't think blatant pandering to that trait will help this camera.
I've had this cam for my Windows Laptop for 6 months now.
What's this Mac only thing?
Very nice cam BTW.
Model: QuickCam® Pro 9000
I did some reading up on this since I have the Pro9000 running on my Vista(sigh!!) machine and also use it for my Mac Mini. Here's what I found out:
Pro 9000 for windows is a UVC Camera and will work on all supporting OSs like OSX and Linux.
The added features like the Rightlight (that adjusts the camera settings to compensate for Low Lighting environments) and Auto Focus don't work in UVC on a regular Pro9000 unless you install the drivers.
Pro9000 for MAC is also a UVC Camera, but, now the Righlight and Auto Focus work under MAC. That's why although it is the same device, it has added components in the HW to make the extra functions work...
I am interested in buying this camera, but, $130 is a little too much for me. I will wait till it gets down a bit or buy it used on ebay...
I think we all noticed the slow move of logitech into elitism, with their increasingly expensive PC add-ons, I guess we should have seen this coming eh :)
Not that logitech doesn't have an equally good/better cam for the PC though, the 9000pro and its notebook cousin.
What makes this camera any different then the Quickcam Pro 9000 for PC?
What do you mean "am I ready"?? You put it in the title, I already know it's Mac only...
I wonder if the software/drivers for this could make a Quickcam 9000 work on a mac...
eh, this webcam is IDENTICAL to the QuickCam Pro 9000, which is the 'Windows version'. The only difference between the two is software and cosmetic.
Buy the cheaper Windows version, which also btw is fully Mac compatible if it is the second revision (ie. you don't need any software and it works on the mac).
See http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/06/24/logitechs-mac-only-quickcam-vision-pro-fills-in-for-isight for additional infos.
Does this spec. out any better than the previous Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision that claimed HD quality 960-720 video? This also was a Mac only cam. I hope the new one is better than the old one.
This is perfect timing!
My powerbook is from before they put the isights built in. And I am in need of a webcam.
I was about to spend a ton more for a used isight camera on ebay.
If apple didn't stop making the original Isight cameras there wouldn't be such a need, but this is a great idea!
I can't wait to buy.
OK! Listen up people. I'll explain this just once. The built-in iSights suck and Apple no longer makes the original iSight! Got it? That's why this camera makes sense. Isn't it better that you can have a camera you can AIM? Or one that has decent picture QUALITY with a high RESOLUTION? Try adjusting the screen of your laptop (I have a MacBook) so it looks good while you're laying on your couch and then turn on your webcam. Oops. Your chatmate gets a lovely and flattering shot of your FOREHEAD! D'oh!
OK, I know some of you weren't paying attention, so I'll repeat it one more time: Built-in iSights SUCK!!!!
Thanks for listening.
any Mac with Leopard running can run the Logitech QuickCam® Vision Pro *** without Radilight though so its dark ***
Again:
Logitech QuickCam® Vision Pro
- works on Leopard
- mic works as well
- no Radilight ********************* SUCKS! ----> hope logitech makes the drivers for this once this new mac only version comes out
I think there is a market for the QuickCam and it's the MacMini IMHO. Picture this, Miglia TVMax (http://www.miglia.com/tvmaxplus/) or El Gato 250 box, ext HD and MacMini plugged into 40" plus plasma. Control the setup with a Logitech all-in-one remote and Logitech Dinovo Mini Keyboard (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en) and you can watch, record, time shift, push to iPod etc all of your TV. Now, add the QuickCam Pro and you can have video chat conversations with your mates at the same time, all from the comfort of you couch! Nice! Perfect for my 2 yo to chat to his grandparents (sitting in front of a computer does NOT work).
If it works as advertised straight out of the box there is something in that. I equate an hour of my time to half the price of the camera.
It's not Mac only!
In fact, it's the easiest webcam I've ever installed, on XP (Windows XP Pro SP3), and on Linux (Fedora 8 and Fedora 9).
On XP, it has full native support. It's driverless. Windows XP will install it automatically. It has full native support in Windows, including image preview in My Computer, and image capture for changing your account's icon in Control Panel/User Accounts.
On Linux, it was recognized instantly. It uses the "uvcvideo" driver. The "ucview" test program worked, and Skype worked.
The webcam uses the new USB video device class standard. This means that it's generic, like a USB keyboard or USB mouse, and will never require a driver.
Autofocus and autoexposure (light level) is done purely in hardware. There's no software to install. This is different from the earlier Logitech QuickCam 9000, which depended on Windows software to do the focus and exposure, which lowered the price of the webcam, but forced you to use Windows. The microphone is pretty good for a webcam, but you'll still want a headset for clear conversation. Frame rate is very fast and smooth, 30fps at 640x480.
It's not without its disadvantages, though. It's pricey. The included stand is very wobbly, and falls down easily. When set on top of the monitor, gravity's the only thing holding it on, it will slide off easily. Unlike the older Logitech webcams with flexible plastic that could mold into place, this camera has stiff plastic, so it doesn't maintain as good a grip. No zoom. Frame rate gets much slower if resolution is increased beyond 640x480. At 960x720, it's 15fps. At the maximum 1600x1200, it's only 5ps. Anything above 960x720 is just hardware upscaling, as the true optical resolution of the webcam is 960x720.
About the only operating system I haven't yet used the webcam with, is Mac :)
umm yea... jus plug it into windows machine and it should work fine on xp.. if not do a search for the UVC windows update.. and install that update from windows... works just great :)