Re: Way off topic (Skype)

I've been using Skype for about three years. Just to clarify, "free
long distance calls anywhere in the world" may imply to some that they
can call actual landline phones..although you clarify it later just
making sure..A lot of people think Skype (which is essentially a
software extension of VOIP) is this magical free service but they do
charge for internet-to-landline calls, as Dan says. However everything
else is on the money- The headset is key if you use it a lot..Dan is
right about the headset, too. If you use a microphone say on a laptop
or a microphone near speakers (likely!) you will likely get feedback.
The headset obviates that problem. Regular 56K calls work just fine (as
long as you're connecting at the top-end of that). No duplexing/delay
problems (talking over one another) usually...Broadband connections will
perform better of course. Think a poor-man's version of Vonage. (Oh
and don't rely on it for 911 either) :)

I speak with people in the South Pacific regularily with Skype and
record the calls (interviews with, yeah, Photographers! (on topic!),
etc) for transcription. So in agreement, Skype is great.

How Dan managed to discuss it on alt-photo-proc must be some magical
ability he has :)

Cheers,
Alex

p.s. One final thing regarding Skype availability. With regards to
Macintosh, Skype is currently available for OSX only....There is not a
client for OS9, etc yet.

FDanB@aol.com wrote:

>Sorry if this off-topic post eats an offending bite of bandwidth but
>there's a chance it can help our shrinking band of chemical-based
>printers keep in touch more easily.
>
>There is good, easy to use software that lets you use your internet
>connection for free long distance calls anywhere in the world. The
>software is called Skype and you can download it (free) at www.skype.com
>for Mac, Windows and Unix. Note: you do not need broadband.
>
>If there's a catch, it's that a good microphone really helps a lot. I'm
>using a Logitec USB headset and the sound quality is much better than
>that of a conventional phone.
>
>You can even use it to call ANY normal phone in the world but there is a
>charge for that (still lower than phone-to-phone calls). For instance,
>you can use Skype to call Australia from the U.S. for about $0.02 per
>minute.
>
>Now in a feeble attempt to make this post somewhat pertinent, today I
>spoke with two former workshop students, one in the Netherlands and one
>in Spain. It was great to help them with some problems without worring
>about long-distance fees.
>
>That's all. And I don't have any connection with Skype or Logitec. Hope
>it helps someone!
>
>Dan
>
>www.danburkholder.com
>www.TinyTutorials.com
>
>----
>"They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted
>me."
>
>-- Nathaniel Lee
>(on being consigned to a mental institution, ca. 17th cen.)
>
>
>
>
Received on Fri Apr 8 09:04:16 2005