Decent webcam software

[St Leo]

My parents are obsessed with using a webcam to communicate with friends and relatives. Problem is -- they are doing it over MSN, and it's flaky as hell. I have all the right ports unblocked on my router, and it still degenerates into fifteen minute sessions of "Can you hear me now? Can you see me now? I am not getting your invitation. Do you see my invitation? Click on the invitation. No, no, no. You are using Windows Messenger. Switch to MSN Messenger.[0]" that drive me up the wall.

Is there any webcam software for Windows that actually works? MSN is ****e, and I don't know any others.

Skype and Google Talk handle audio brilliantly, so surely there's something for video. I'd use iChat, but Apple in its wisdom neglected to release a Windows version.

Thanks.

[0] Why the heck doesn't MSN Messenger, you know, remove Windows Messenger on installation? At least, the impression I am getting is that it doesn't.

[Verto]

Have you tried Yahoo Messenger? Both that and MSN worked for me as far as video goes, although I never used it for an extended period of time.

[Mercator]

I use MSN all the time for video conversations and it works perfectly (mostly).

But how are they starting the conversation? If you do an audio conversation + webcam (starting them separately) the audio quality is lousy and the video shaky. If you start a video conversation both are much better.

[Asher]

I also use MSN all the time for video conversations without issue.

User error, or bad router is my guess.

[Flip McWho]

If you're not an 18yr old hot female you don't need a webcam.

[Verto]

Originally posted by Flip McWho
If you're not an 18yr old hot female you don't need a webcam.

a/s/l ?

[alva]

It's funny, how everone in a chatroom without a cam is '18 F California' etc... while those with a cam is '58 M Ohio'.