Logitech's flagship QuickCam Vision Pro is Mac only

Logitech, a name long synonymous with PC webcams, just announced its newest, flagship camera which -- are you ready? -- is Mac-only. A move which, quite honestly, makes us feel, well... dirty. The USB 2.0 QuickCam Vision Pro works with iChat and Skype and features a 2 megapixel sensor, a quick autofocusing Carl Zeiss lens, and the ability to record VGA video at 30fps while mounted to your display or, redundantly, to your MacBook which of course have featured an integrated webcam for the last few years. Hitting shelves across Europe and the US in July for $130. See this chunk of a webcam attached to an Apple Cinema Display after the break.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 24th 2008 4:57AM]

When will logitech make a competitor to the Playstation Eye?

[anabouboula @ Jun 24th 2008 5:11AM]

Never! Tell me your e-mail to send you OS X Drivers (My mom works for Sony)

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 24th 2008 6:56AM]

I don't own a Playstation eye, and I have a built in webcam.

Thanks though!

[BuddyBoy @ Jun 24th 2008 7:53AM]

Hi
I wouldn't mind getting some of that Playstation eye magic on my Mac Pro! :)

[fontendet24 @ Jun 25th 2008 8:06AM]

Loooks like a landscape PENIS.

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 4:58AM]

As far as I knew, Macs have built in Webcams (iSight)
When did this change?

[weg @ Jun 24th 2008 5:03AM]

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.

[Dan @ Jun 24th 2008 5:04AM]

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?

[Craig @ Jun 24th 2008 7:35AM]

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).

[frozo @ Jun 24th 2008 8:00AM]

weg: WRONG

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 24th 2008 9:33AM]

@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".

[Konstantin @ Jun 24th 2008 1:49PM]

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.

[Ollie @ Jun 24th 2008 8:16PM]

I guess Mac users would like a webcam that doesn't blow. Last time I checked, my MBP's iSight was pretty pathetic.

[Tom Robertson @ Jun 24th 2008 5:07AM]

Wow, thats a lot of money for something that is intergrated into most new macs!

[peter @ Jun 24th 2008 8:07AM]

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.

[Sam @ Jun 24th 2008 12:51PM]

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

[Sam @ Jun 24th 2008 12:57PM]

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

[pankajsharmahome @ Jun 24th 2008 6:02PM]

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.

[EagleEyez @ Jun 24th 2008 5:07AM]

very dirty indeed...

[Frankie @ Jun 24th 2008 5:08AM]

But you can't play Crysis on MAC's computers!

[Chris von Eitzen @ Jun 24th 2008 5:19AM]

Actually, yes you can. Boot Camp. I played and beat it on my Mac.

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 5:18AM]

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.

[Metkis @ Jun 24th 2008 5:29AM]

To me, using Windows on a Mac defeats the purpose of paying so much for a Mac.

[Catsceo @ Jun 24th 2008 5:42AM]

Correct, You can't play Crysis on a MAC address. Oh wait, you mean a Apple Mac?

[Kurian @ Jun 24th 2008 5:59AM]

I'm sure it would run beautifully on very high on a single 8800GT which is all a Crap Pro supports.

[neofolklore @ Jun 24th 2008 7:45AM]

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.

[avdesign4 @ Jun 24th 2008 8:54AM]

@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

[Jherez @ Jun 24th 2008 10:40AM]

@ avdesign4. That was a limited test, by the way, the key statement is "was rated highest".

[johnzilla @ Jun 24th 2008 10:56AM]

What is this Crysis everyone is talking about?

[Jeff @ Jun 24th 2008 11:34AM]

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?

[Metkis @ Jun 24th 2008 11:59AM]

@Jeff:

Well, then I have no respect for someone that is so anal as to care.

[Hamson @ Jun 24th 2008 12:14PM]

Well, does Apple make any computers that aren't Macs?

[xstream @ Jun 24th 2008 5:08AM]

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

[Catsceo @ Jun 24th 2008 5:40AM]

...and thats whay they made it, to be used on Mac Minis, Mac Pros, and older PPC macs.

[Reinhard @ Jun 24th 2008 8:12AM]

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 .

[tanporakuda @ Jun 24th 2008 5:10AM]

By making it Mac-only they can double the price (130$!) and it will still sell because mac users will feel privileged :D

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 5:21AM]

Did the last 4 years fly right over your head?
☺

[ScooterDe @ Jun 24th 2008 5:27AM]

The premium pricing partly reflects the very small size of this niche market.

[Jagster @ Jun 24th 2008 1:31PM]

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.

[Niz @ Jun 24th 2008 5:12AM]

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.

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 5:12AM]

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.

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 5:15AM]

Sorry everyone.

That Comment^^ was aimed at Weg.
Forgot to click Reply.

Sorry again

[Prokanda @ Jun 24th 2008 6:30AM]

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.

[pb @ Jun 24th 2008 8:09AM]

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.

[lance @ Jun 24th 2008 5:13AM]

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!

[Jeffrey @ Jun 24th 2008 5:16AM]

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.

[The Apple @ Jun 24th 2008 5:21AM]

They probably will.
:-)

[Magnulus @ Jun 24th 2008 5:17AM]

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.

[stephen @ Jun 24th 2008 9:25AM]

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).

[yannic Huneau @ Jun 24th 2008 5:27AM]

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 !