On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

Magic Jack is better for us. Skype has a latency problem when coupled with
a dish receiver. It's a delay that makes everything sound garbled. Magic
Jack does not have that problem. Skype would not work at our remote cabin
with the dish. Magic Jack does.

Just another VOIP? What does that mean? VOIP - voice over internet
protocol - is a simple voice communication system that uses a computer. It
is not as good as an optic fiber phone, but it is waaaaaaaaaaaay less
expensive, particularly if the users are in remote or third world countries.
Drawbacks? Maybe a couple. With a satellite card on a laptop, you have an
instant satellite phone that will work almost anywhere in the world. Want
to call home while camping? Just do it.

Between users, it is cheap, cheap, cheap. To call a non-user or have them
call you, it's reasonable.

My two cents.

Steve

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

Works great for video visits with daughter and granddaughter. Do not think
I would want it for my main phone. My nephew uses Magic Jack. Sucks most
of the time. Since it is free for computer to computer, is really great.
Video can be screwed up at times, but the sound seems ok.

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

I don't understand what trust has to do with it. It works fine for me, and
if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. Pretty simple. There are other
programs out there that do the same thing.

My son rigged up something through Yahoo on my dad's computer to talk
with by brother and his family in panama. When they signed in a little
banner would give an alert in the lower right corner to tell you they
were there on and we could talk to them fairly easily. but you had to
take turns, because the over-lap in voices was bad.

We didn't use video at the time, dad's computer was on dial up (and
still is) so vid would have been too much of a bog.

I think it's still available too isn't it? computer to computer??

On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:24:27 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My son rigged up something through Yahoo on my dad's computer to talk
with by brother and his family in panama. When they signed in a little
banner would give an alert in the lower right corner to tell you they
were there on and we could talk to them fairly easily. but you had to
take turns, because the over-lap in voices was bad.

We didn't use video at the time, dad's computer was on dial up (and
still is) so vid would have been too much of a bog.

I think it's still available too isn't it? computer to computer??


That was old technology. It was kind of like talking on military
radios, you almost had to say 'over'.

Skype is just like talking in your living room, if you're using a
camera.

Go he http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/

Download it. Get a good camera. I use this Logitech:

http://tinyurl.com/nhvkwg

You can order it here for about $35 less than I paid for mine.

http://tinyurl.com/nl346z

Of course, if you get a camera, you'll have to give up sausage gravy
and biscuits and homefries.
--
John H

"If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free!"
--Anonymous

"Lu Powell" wrote in message
news

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

I don't understand what trust has to do with it. It works fine for me, and
if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. Pretty simple. There are other
programs out there that do the same thing.

Touche! (sorry I can't put that little mark over the "e")

On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:10:35 -0400, "Lu Powell"
wrote:


"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

I don't understand what trust has to do with it. It works fine for me, and
if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. Pretty simple. There are other
programs out there that do the same thing.

Did Vonage ever fix their 911 problem?

As I understand it, and I could be wrong, Skype has the same problem.
Relying on it for basic communications isn't very smart - free calls
or not.

Plus, it's VOIP - if Twitter can be hacked, so can Skype.

There is such a thing as reliance on technology being very
questionable approach.

Besides, you are tied to your computer - what's the point? A cell
phone works better.

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:10:35 -0400, "Lu Powell"
wrote:


"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

I don't understand what trust has to do with it. It works fine for me, and
if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. Pretty simple. There are other
programs out there that do the same thing.

Did Vonage ever fix their 911 problem?

As I understand it, and I could be wrong, Skype has the same problem.
Relying on it for basic communications isn't very smart - free calls
or not.

Plus, it's VOIP - if Twitter can be hacked, so can Skype.

There is such a thing as reliance on technology being very
questionable approach.

Besides, you are tied to your computer - what's the point? A cell
phone works better.

There are times when the bandwidth is pretty crowded with 10 million or more
users. We like it just for the FREE video calls with family in Singapore
while we sit here in Jacksonville, FL. I don't have a dog in this fight.
Messenger has the capability, as does several others.

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:10:35 -0400, "Lu Powell"
wrote:


"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:56 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on signing up for up for Skype to communicate better with
some people.

but I dont' know anything about it. Anybody use Skype?


just curious.

Thanks!

As I understand it, Skype to Skype calls are free, but to non-Skype
users it costs about the same as a cell phone contract.

It's another version of VOIP and frankly, I woulnd't trust it as far
as I could throw it.

I don't understand what trust has to do with it. It works fine for me, and
if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. Pretty simple. There are other
programs out there that do the same thing.

Did Vonage ever fix their 911 problem?

As I understand it, and I could be wrong, Skype has the same problem.
Relying on it for basic communications isn't very smart - free calls
or not.

Plus, it's VOIP - if Twitter can be hacked, so can Skype.

There is such a thing as reliance on technology being very
questionable approach.

Besides, you are tied to your computer - what's the point? A cell
phone works better.

My Magic Jack will work in a place no cell phone will.

Steve