Ubuntu :: Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 Webcam?

I have two computers--a Zareason machine (no details yet) running 8.04. I also have a Dell 1525N laptop running 9.10. I purchased recently a Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 Webcam. The video works on both systems with Ekiga and Cheese. I can also see the video in Flash applications (but *not* in Meebo even with the other person logged into Meebo). (Both computers are running the latest Flash plugins).

However, the built-in microphone is problematic. With 8.04, I get playback when I test it under System|Preferences|Sound--but with lots of echo. But I get no sound with any Flash chat applications. I've not been able to test it with Ekiga as the testee (a Windows 7 user) can't get Ekiga to work on his machine (probable Windows firewall issues). I haven't installed Skype because Skype pulled its 8.04-compliant .deb packages and I've not tried yet to compile it from source code.

With 9.10, the webcam works with Cheese (video) and I can get both webcam and mic to work with Skype. (Again, no test result possible for Ekiga until I get a testee). However--my Win7 testee friend says that when I log into Googlechat using Pidgin on my 9.10 laptop, a webcam icon appears next to my userID telling him that I have an open webcam (even when there's NONE actually plugged in). He doesn't see the same icon when I log into my 8.04 desktop with no webcam plugged in. I have searched Pidgin and my System preferences and see no evidence that any of these applications or my system sees a webcam that's not there.

So--how to get the mic to work? (I am thinking the simplest answer will be to simply upgrade my desktop to Lucid). And also, why the webcam icon in Googlechat even when no webcam is plugged in on my 9.10 laptop??