We Kid You Not Childfree Forums

Does anyone have / use Skype? What do you think of it?

I haven't had a need for it (I usually message through type, or use the google chat, both of which I didn't have to sign up for), but I do know a large number of people who have used it and been happy with it.

I think that the biggest problem in general is the speaker and microphone systems on computers. Sometimes voices don't sound very good.

Do you have any particular questions? Are you going to be using it for calling landlines (in which case you pay money) or just for computer-to-computer use? With the computer-to-computer issue you have to keep in mind that the other person will have to have Skype loaded up as well.

Oh, and I don't know how Skype compares to more traditional options, like cell phones and landlines. I have only seen it used in contexts where people had no other option (other than similar products).

Some of my family members are signing on and I thought it would be cool if we could conference on it. It will be used with the computer only but I've heard listening with headphones is better.

It's free when you are using it between computers, so if you have the time and enthusiasm to try it then my suggestion would be "Why not?" I have heard enough good reviews that I think it would be worth the effort to set it up, plus it seems to be relatively easy to do, and while you might be disappointed I think that you would be happiest having at least tried it (of course, I'm speaking as someone who likes to poke at toys and try things).

My current boss and my last boss both used it for overseas calls. Sometimes my boss would call me on it when he was out of town - generally it would ring, I'd try to answer and nothing. Second time around it worked. In the era of so many cell phone minutes I have no use for it, but if I had overseas calls to make I'd probably use it.

DH and I will use it to talk and see his mom in Phoenix and Dad in Scottsdale. Other than that we never use it. I think it is fun and easy to use, but most of the time, it seems hard to get a hold of the other person.

I love it for the most part.
Most of my phone calls are long distance and it is FREE computer to computer and cheap ( $3 per mth) for unlimited north american calls to landlines and cells.

My main beef is not having an incoming SKYPEIN phone number for Canada.
There are work-arounds, but they are cumbersome and expensive ( relatively).

I speak 1-2 hours daily for FREE to my boyfriend 120Km away.
I also have long chats with friends further away including Australia.

I have also switched to a camera and a 32 in TV/monitor, so it is very much like visiting in the same room.
We have also gotten a few seniors to change to Skype and once they get used to it, also love it for being able to visit with friends and relatives.

So- other than SKYPEIN numbers for Canada, and a few minor problems with call quality and drop-outs- it is GREAT !!
and... free or cheap!

We use it with DH's family once in a while. At Xmas we were able to see the kids open the presents we gave them. They didn't look all that excited.

(02-16-2010 01:14 PM)noelle Wrote: [ -> ]They didn't look all that excited.

That made me LOL!