Skype/Webcams

[Euclidthegreek]

So I'm getting Skype, so I may soon be able to join the SMBC Skype chats. However, I have a webcam in my garage somewhere, and the prospects of me finding it don't look good. Even if I find it, I still need a mic. So I am asking you for suggestions on brands/models. Here are my conditions:

1. It needs to be less than $50 US, because I do not have money.
2. I need to be able to buy and have it soon, very soon. I promised my boyfriend to have it ready by the weekend.
2a. It would be nice if it is available at some kind of physical store, for expediency purposes.
3. Needs to be Macintosh compatable.
4. Decent audio. Audio and video quality don't have to be great, but it needs to be workable/not total shit, since this is pretty much my only contact with boyfriend.

I don't know if this needs its own thread*, but I thought maybe people would actually give help this way.

* Ed, feel free to merge if you so desire.

[Frostbite]

The Skype chats we did didn't have video in the past. I mean, you can do that, but the SMBC ones I took part in didn't use it.

[Cirtur]

Yeah, skype doesn't have multiple video conferencing.

[Felstaff]

I had a wow moment as a child when I realised that headphones can double as microphones!

(try it! Jam that headphone jack into your nearest available mic-hole with the force of an angry god!)

[Cirtur]

This sounds like utter shit.

[smiley_cow]

Maybe Felstaff is actually a God with supernatural powers and he just doesn't know it. Us regular mortals could never turn our headphones into microphones, but Felstaff... Felstaff is different.

[Frostbite]

Different in the eats crayons way?

[Edminster]

It legit works but the sound quality is pretty bad and you have to have the little speaker things right up against your mouth or else it won't transmit the sound.

[Euclidthegreek]

I need the video part for non-SMBC purposes. I just thought you guys might have an idea. I will look into the headphone thing, but I definitely need a real webcam.

[Edminster]

The Amazon.com hivemind is saying that this Logitech webcam is the way to go, but if you're not willing to spend sixty-odd dollars then this one from a company called Cubeternet might strike your fancy at around twenty dollars.

[LordRetard]

Don't use headphones as a microphone. As far as my investigations go, it sounds just about terrible.

[Frostbite]

As far as my research goes, the best microphone is a microphone. I could be wrong.

[LordRetard]

The best microphone is in fact a standard pez dispenser. Research on the topic has been slow only because it lacks a jack.

[smiley_cow]

As far as my research goes, the best microphone is a microphone. I could be wrong.

I know from previous skype chats that the cheap mics you can pick up at dollar stores produce a lot of feedback when talking on skype, so you may want to splurge there and get a nice ten/fifteen dollar one.

[Felstaff]

Different in the eats crayons way?

Hey. HEY.

My philosophy is: if it's good enough to write my résumé with, it's good enough to eat