12-24-2010, 09:50 AM

Am interested in setting up iChat to be able to use it to video chat with my daughter who also has a Mac.

Couple of questions:
Where it says create an account I have no idea or experience in any listed - think I'll go for mac.com (do I need mobile me account first)

Does my daughter have to use the same client as me i.e. mac.com to use iChat?

Have never used this form of communicating before and would appreciate all the help I can get.

12-24-2010, 11:01 AM

I will try and answer your questions though I am far from an iChat maven. I have had it set up for so long I have almost forgotten the setup.

iChat will work with the MobileMe addresses (mac.com or the newer me.com). Even if you stop paying for MobileMe's other services the screen name stays active and can be used for iChat.

Your daughter is not forced to also have a MobileMe account. iChat will communicate with several others (AOL Instant Messenger, Jabber, Google Talk). You can even get a free AOL Instant Messenger Screen name and use that with iChat.

Here's a walk through of the setup process Mac 101: iChat. If you are going to use a free AOL screen name get that before you start setting up iChat.
https://new.aol.com/productsweb/?pro...uswebr00000006

12-24-2010, 03:44 PM

Thank you slydude, will take that onboard. I have just clicked on get an iChat account and from the dropdown menu it lists mac.com when clicking to create an account it takes me to create an Apple ID eg email @mac.com

That is what I meant when I mentioned mac.com before. Will this allow me to use iChat

Hope I haven't confused?

12-24-2010, 04:17 PM

It's not been too long since I set one up and started using iChat so remember it well
Basically sign up for the mac.com, fill in the small form and it will give you a username.
Get your daughter to do the same thing. Swap usernames or mac.com email addresses so you can add each other as friends and your ready to start video chatting.
Hope this helps

- Simon

12-24-2010, 04:24 PM

Yes. That should work. The Apple ID can be used with iChat as well as a username to log into the Apple Discussion boards. You don't need the ID to read those boards but I believe you do for posting.

12-24-2010, 06:04 PM

Mac.com is now used exclusively for iChat usernames. Go ahead and get one -- or an America Online Instant Messenger username (you do not have to sign up for AOL to get one, they're free like the iChat username).

Once you have either, and your daughter has the same, add each other as buddies and that's it. You can "type-chat" as I call it, or audio chat, or video chat. I just right-click on an available buddy's name, choose audio or video, and call. They respond, and we're talking.

Or, if you prefer to VASTLY simplify this process: if both of you have very recent Macs running Snow Leopard (with a camera, obviously), you can just both download FaceTime for Mac (free). No signups, no usernames. You select her (or she selects you) from the FaceTime contact list, and that's it.

12-25-2010, 05:33 AM

Wow: Thanks Guys. Great explanations. Will do as you suggest. Many thanks re: the Face recognition download link - will check with daughter to see if she has Snow Leopard installed.

Merry Christmas to you all.

12-25-2010, 10:32 AM

Update: Don't know if it's because I live in the UK and not the US but upon attempting to get an iChat account via mac.com The page is redirected telling me that @mac.com is reserved for MobileMe accounts.

12-25-2010, 11:45 AM

You can also use Face Time if you both.have Mac's and SL it's free and available at Apple's downloads on their site.
,

12-26-2010, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by MacGandalf

Update: Don't know if it's because I live in the UK and not the US but upon attempting to get an iChat account via mac.com The page is redirected telling me that @mac.com is reserved for MobileMe accounts.

Ah. Okay, well just follow the directions for getting an iChat account without the mac.com address then. Probably my mistake.

You can also use an AIM username with iChat, and it works the same as it does with a MM account.

12-27-2010, 06:21 AM

chas_m: Thanks. Daughter has older version operating system and is intending to purchase a new Mac running Snow Leopard so I will wait until she does before configuring iChat.

On her current Mac she uses Skype to video call her friends so I decided to try that for the present until she gets her new Mac.

Did a bit of searching re: Skype and found lots of iMac users complaining about the latest 'for Mac' v2.8. - see what they were getting at, tried in vain 6 times to get an account, just wouldn't have it, going round in circles on the download page.

Decided to download old version 2.7.0.330, install and create account that way - AOK, then upgraded via internal updater to 2.8 - lot of messing around but it works.

Sure hope it is not too long before she gets her new Mac.

12-27-2010, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by osxx

You can also use Face Time if you both.have Mac's and SL it's free and available at Apple's downloads on their site.
,

This is great! You learn something new every day.

Just installed FaceTime on my wife's macbook and my iMac and it worked first time. My wife wonders why I don't just go into her study to talk to her though rather than talk through the screen. Women!!

12-27-2010, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Sawday

This is great! You learn something new every day.

Just installed FaceTime on my wife's macbook and my iMac and it worked first time. My wife wonders why I don't just go into her study to talk to her though rather than talk through the screen. Women!!

It also works great from Mac to iPhone 4.

12-29-2010, 05:49 PM

Can iChat be used between a Mac and a non-Mac PC?

12-29-2010, 05:51 PM

iChat - Mac with AIM (AOL) on Windows OS.

Here you go, here are the instructions:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6787435_icha...en-mac-pc.html