TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Review: The Orange Micro iBot Pro

Volume Number: 20 (2004)
Issue Number: 5
Column Tag: Review

Review: The Orange Micro iBot Pro

by John C. Welch

No, really, the iSight isn't the only game in town

The iBot

iSight, iSight, iSight. If you listen to the iHype, you'd iThink that the all good FireWire cams must start with "I". Now, the iSight is an excellent webcam, but it's hardly the only one out there. Orange Micro's iBot was available long before the iSight, and in many cases, is a better choice.

Basics

The iBot is the embodiment of the "uniSight". It's got a great bulbous body, a stand that sort of resembles a foot, and the FireWire cable is permanently attached to the body. It looks like a blue and white translucent tennis ball that grew an eye, a foot and a tail. There's no mounting clips included, since you don't mount it. You set it down on a flat surface.

That's the first problem with the iBot. Since the cable comes straight out of the back of the iBot, it can sometimes be a pain to set up correctly. The cable is on the thick side, so depending on how it runs from the iBot to the computer; you may have to resort to devices like books, or duct tape to get the iBot to stay in one position. The cable attachment also limits vertical orientation, since the weight of the cable can tip the iBot if you tilt the camera too far down. On the plus side, the base attaches to the sides of the iBot, and while the iBot can pivot on those points, it's hardly loose, so once you get it tilted correctly, it's not going to change that orientation because of a loose pivot. If you can deal with cable and mount issues, the iBot gives you a far greater vertical adjustment range than the iSight's mount allows for. A thinner, detachable cable would be a definite plus in any case. Allowing for different kinds of mounts would be a plus too.

Using the iBot

Even allowing for its differences, the iBot is quite easy to use. You have to manually focus, which can be tedious, but once the focus is set, you can leave it alone. (There are times when you just want to set the cam up and have it stay that way. The iSight's auto focus, while mostly convenient, can be quite annoying if there's a lot of motion in the cam's field of vision. Anything the iSight works with, the iBot should work with just fine. I found picture quality between the iSight and the iBot to be comparable, and while the iBot doesn't include a microphone, is just as good a cam as the iSight.

With recent upgrades to iMovie allowing you to use cams such as the iBot as video sources, you can now use the iBot as a very cheap way to get video into your Mac. (No, you are NOT going to get the same quality from an iBot, as you will from a real DV camera. But as a quick 'n' dirty workaround, it's not bad. The iBot comes with an excellent array of software, especially in the Pro configuration, which was the review config. Among the choices is the iVisit video conferencing package, and BTVPro, an excellent basic DV capture utility that has excellent AppleScript support. The iBot pro also comes with an analog headset mic, which makes video conferencing a lot more convenient, and is a nice touch. (Now, if Orange Micro were to eventually replace that with their Bluetooth headset that would be a very sweet package indeed.) Considering the iBot Pro package is about $30 less than the iSight, yet includes a lot more features and software, it's a compelling alternative to the iSight, albeit with an unfortunate base design.

Conclusion

If you decide on the iBot Pro, you shouldn't worry that you won't be one of the iKool iKids. The package is a great deal, and it's built around a great cam.


John Welch <jwelch@provar.com> is an IT Staff Member for Kansas City Life Insurance, a Technical Strategist for Provar, (http://www.provar.com/) and the Chief Know-It-All for TackyShirt, (http://www.tackyshirt.com/). He has over fifteen years of experience at making Macs work with other computer systems. John specializes in figuring out ways in which to make the Mac do what nobody thinks it can, showing that the Mac is a superior administrative platform, and teaching others how to use it in interesting, if sometimes frightening ways. He also does things that don't involve computertry on occasion, or at least that's the rumor.

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Top Mobile Game Discounts
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links... | Read more »
Price of Glory unleashes its 1.4 Alpha u...
As much as we all probably dislike Maths as a subject, we do have to hand it to geometry for giving us the good old Hexgrid, home of some of the best strategy games. One such example, Price of Glory, has dropped its 1.4 Alpha update, stocked full... | Read more »
The SLC 2025 kicks off this month to cro...
Ever since the Solo Leveling: Arise Championship 2025 was announced, I have been looking forward to it. The promotional clip they released a month or two back showed crowds going absolutely nuts for the previous competitions, so imagine the... | Read more »
Dive into some early Magicpunk fun as Cr...
Excellent news for fans of steampunk and magic; the Precursor Test for Magicpunk MMORPG Crystal of Atlan opens today. This rather fancy way of saying beta test will remain open until March 5th and is available for PC - boo - and Android devices -... | Read more »
Prepare to get your mind melted as Evang...
If you are a fan of sci-fi shooters and incredibly weird, mind-bending anime series, then you are in for a treat, as Goddess of Victory: Nikke is gearing up for its second collaboration with Evangelion. We were also treated to an upcoming... | Read more »
Square Enix gives with one hand and slap...
We have something of a mixed bag coming over from Square Enix HQ today. Two of their mobile games are revelling in life with new events keeping them alive, whilst another has been thrown onto the ever-growing discard pile Square is building. I... | Read more »
Let the world burn as you have some fest...
It is time to leave the world burning once again as you take a much-needed break from that whole “hero” lark and enjoy some celebrations in Genshin Impact. Version 5.4, Moonlight Amidst Dreams, will see you in Inazuma to attend the Mikawa Flower... | Read more »
Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea lands on...
Aether Gazer has announced its latest major update, and it is one of the loveliest event names I have ever heard. Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea is an amazing name, and it comes loaded with two side stories, a new S-grade Modifier, and some fancy... | Read more »
Open your own eatery for all the forest...
Very important question; when you read the title Zoo Restaurant, do you also immediately think of running a restaurant in which you cook Zoo animals as the course? I will just assume yes. Anyway, come June 23rd we will all be able to start up our... | Read more »
Crystal of Atlan opens registration for...
Nuverse was prominently featured in the last month for all the wrong reasons with the USA TikTok debacle, but now it is putting all that behind it and preparing for the Crystal of Atlan beta test. Taking place between February 18th and March 5th,... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

AT&T is offering a 65% discount on the ne...
AT&T is offering the new iPhone 16e for up to 65% off their monthly finance fee with 36-months of service. No trade-in is required. Discount is applied via monthly bill credits over the 36 month... Read more
Use this code to get a free iPhone 13 at Visi...
For a limited time, use code SWEETDEAL to get a free 128GB iPhone 13 Visible, Verizon’s low-cost wireless cell service, Visible. Deal is valid when you purchase the Visible+ annual plan. Free... Read more
M4 Mac minis on sale for $50-$80 off MSRP at...
B&H Photo has M4 Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for $50 to $80 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $549, $50 off... Read more
Buy an iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile and get one...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering one year of free Unlimited service with the purchase of any iPhone 16. Purchase the iPhone at standard MSRP, and then choose... Read more
Get an iPhone 15 for only $299 at Boost Mobil...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering the 128GB iPhone 15 for $299.99 including service with their Unlimited Premium plan (50GB of premium data, $60/month), or $20... Read more
Unreal Mobile is offering $100 off any new iP...
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE... Read more
Apple drops prices on clearance iPhone 14 mod...
With today’s introduction of the new iPhone 16e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and SE. In response, Apple has dropped prices on unlocked, Certified Refurbished, iPhone 14 models to a... Read more
B&H has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros on sa...
B&H Photo is offering a $360-$410 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 16″ M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/... Read more
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on the M4...
Amazon has the M4 Pro Mac mini discounted $100 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their price is the lowest currently available for this popular mini: – Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1299, $100... Read more
B&H continues to offer $150-$220 discount...
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $150-$220 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 14″ M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1449, $150 off MSRP – 14″ M4... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.