iSight : External iSight Model Version Revisions
As mentioned in the Title box - there are pages that were written a little while ago by EZ Jim, a poster on the Apple Discussions who contributed to iSight and iChat Discussions. The words the following pages are EZ Jim's
Use the the Information Column Menu for EZ Jim's pages
External iSight Model Version Revisions
(Updated 07 June 01)Some users are curious about the part-number or model numbers of external iSights. These numbers are of most importance to Apple Service Providers for servicing and possible parts replacement. However, here is some information that may be of interest to users.
External iSight has been offered in several model revisions. Different iSight model versions are distinguished by a letter designation at the end of Apple's Part Number. This part number is easiest found on the box in which your iSight is originally sold. The last model version (Rev) I noticed before iSight was discontinued was "Rev C", and its part number is M8817LL/C.
Apple does not publish technical data on specific changes in each Rev. However, all three Revs I have seen appear very similar, and they are functionally equivalent.
For the user, about the only practical difference between the versions is in the mounts that were included when the iSight was new. For instance, the original iSight (and my "Rev A") included mounts that used adhesive to attach to the Mac or Monitor. The Rev C mounts included magnetic mounts for later Mac models.
Rev A also used a thumbscrew mount for the iBooks that were available at that time. The thumbscrew mount has been replaced with a clip-on mount designed for current Apple laptops. Other mounting applications are still supported by the current selection of included mounts.
If you are contemplating buying an external iSight, you should check to see whether the mounts that come with the iSight under consideration meet your needs. Desktop Mac mounting solutions are fairly flexible, and if the iSight you buy does not include mounts designed for your Mac, you may find acceptable alternatives in the Mounts For Your iSight topic.
Laptop mounting needs usually include a requirement for easy portability and repeated, easy set-up, so which mounts are included may be more important to those buying a used iSight for use with their laptop. If the iSight under consideration does not have the correct mount, one alternative for laptop users who do not want to use some kind of desk stand to mount their iSights is the iFlex (This is a link to a Google Search as the manufacturer no longer lists this product).
Edit 2024:- A review of both SightFlex and iFlex products by MacMice. There Links to the Macmice site and the products that is live at time of edit but I see no way to purchase either.
Rev C mounts are shown on page 6 of this downloadable iSight Users Guide (Manual) This manual may answer many of your mounting and connection questions.
Edit 2024:- Web Archive Link
Two cautions when mounting external iSight.
First, regardless of what Mac you use or how you mount your iSight, do not block any air vents.
The second is for laptop Mac users only. Laptop Mac users must NOT use the magnetic mount near the hard drive of your Mac laptop! You may risk damage to the drive or your data. I have seen reports from two users who reported losing their data lost when they opened the box near their laptop. A magnetic mount fell out of the box, landed on their open laptop, and apparently damaged the drive. One user reported that the damage was repaired only by reformatting the drive and reinstalling everything. The other user said that her drive could no longer even be formatted, but she never posted back to say whether her Apple Service Technician was able to repair the drive.
Instructions on how to attach the Firewire cable and mount iSight are shown beginning on page 7 of the Users Guide.
My iSight is a "Rev A", and it is now more than three years old. My Rev A iSight still works as well as the later Rev B's and Rev C's I have seen.
Finally, unless the iSight you are considering is a NOS (new, old-stock) iSight, it will likely not be covered by Apple Warranty. If the seller is not providing you service guarantees or warranty, you may be interested in considering Apple's iSight Service: Frequently Asked Questions.
Edit 2024:- 2012 Edit of this Document for historical interest. Strangely it still lists Replacements several years after the oficial sales were stopped.
~~ END of Revised ~~
Comment
With the the absence of the External iSight for sale, one or two of the EZ Jim pages are showing their age.
I have left them and edited them to make them as relvant as possible as the External iSight still does a good trade on eBay and the like and so might the accessories.
8:09 PM Sunday; September 14, 2008
Written By EZ Jim
Made on a Mac®
© 2005, 2006 EZ Jim
© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006. Moved to Gargoyles Mar 2007. Major review October 2024 towards HTML5
Information Column
EZ Jim's iSight Stuff
Plain Text links to related Pages
For Screen Readers
EZJim Folder
EZJimindex Index of EZ Jim's iSight and Other InfoUsing iSight Using iSight
EZJim page2 Where to Find Help for iSight
EZJim page3 About the Built-In iSights
EZJim page4 How to Test your iSight is Functional
EZJim page5 Improving your (External) iSight's Picture
EZJim page6 Possible Conflicts with iSight an iChat
EZJim page7 Some Applications you can Use with an iSight
EZJim page8 iSight V DV Camcorder or other Web Cam
EZJim page9 Mounts for your External iSight
EZJim page10 iSight Versions (External)
EZJim page11 How to Turn your iSight Really Off
EZJim page12 iSight and the PC
EZJim page13 Common PC Applications and Chatting
EZJim page14 Mac Video Chat with PCs
EZJim page15 Using An iSight with iChat
EZJim page16 Help for iChat 3 Problems
EZJim page17 How to Get iChat working again
EZJim page18 Check your Broadband Speed
EZJim page19 OS X Maintenance
EZJim page20 Updating the OS
EZJim page21 Reinstalling the OS
EZJim page22 Macintosh System Stability
Made on a Mac®
