Since I made the move to Linux I have been happy in the whole. There have been a few niggles I have still to resolve, one of those being getting my webcam working.
Windows users will look puzzled at this point, they just plug them in and it works. This is how it should be in Linux but it turns Linux moved from V1 to V2 of the Video for Linux (V4L) interface recently.
Trouble is it appears someone forgot to tell the developers of applications that interact with V4L about V4L2. To make matters worse the driver makers decided that since V4L2 is out they should gut out support for the old V4L interface. Net result is nothing works and the web is awash with people all in the same boat, trying to get help and no real answer apart from wait for the situation to be resolved.
What a farce. I would hate to think how many hours I have wasted on this issue so far.
At least I have a workable solution for the time being. Goodbye to Pidgin which is the default IM tool for Ubuntu and hello to aMSN. I only use MSN for my IM needs so losing access to all the IM protocols supported by Pidgin does not effect me and aMSN works with my webcam.
I still can’t grab stills or video from the webcam outside aMSN but as my main use is in IM chats that fight can wait for another day.
I have to say that this is the sort of problem that stops me recommending Linux for friends and family that are not geeks. I just know I would end up as unpaid support for them.
