iSight, iNsomnia

Well, I gave into the slick marketing and tooled over to the CambridgeSide Galleria and plunked down my money for an iSight macintosh video camera.

After minimal set-up, I chatted with a guy in Japan, and kids hanging outside the Apple store waiting for it to open in California, and also with a guy who works part time as a travelling clown/performer with Cirque de Soleil.

It was pretty cool, and somewhat akward. I think putting introverted people face to face with audio can be a bit much. But when I chatted with someone who I shared interest with, it was easier.

Oh yes, I also chatted with people at a party in Georgia and they faced the camera towards the tv and I watched the opening of Old School. I'm not sure the copyright implications of that.

I think bases that would pivot more would be cool. I have mine on top of my eMac at home, so the whole screen can pivot. But I unstuck the mount and used the long firewire cord to get some close-ups of my cat to share with another cat owner.

I'd imagine there are all sorts of ways to trick 'em out. It was a little pricey $155 for ne, but I think it will be worth it in entertainment value alone. Now I just have to convince people I know to get one. Almost everybody I chatted with had heard of the publisher I worked at briefly, and many held up their copies of the books. That was sort of cool.

bretkerr@mac.com

I also think the .mac sites should be boosted to 1 gig of storage. (I found out this is an option for an extra $400 a year)