Audio chat over the Internet...

[makntraks]

Skype is just hype LOL
I love when people 'rediscover America' again and again and have to announce it all over LOL!

Ive been using NetMeeting since I had Win95 to talk to my overseas friends for free. I installed quickcam camera to add videophone-alike ability to my calls in 1997, and yes - it was working over the phone modem connections

Couple years ago MSN Messenger had a free "call to any phone number in North America from your computer anywhere in the world" feature. Thats when I finally 'hooked' all of my friends on using MSN Messenger and voice chat. IIRC it was 4-5 years ago LOL. Since then I have "text chats" only with 'casual' people on my buddy list.

But till today still I prefer using NetMeeting, nothing beats direct IP to IP connection if you wanna have voice concersations and a two-way video feeds.

So whats actually new with that skype LOL ???
:P

In a way I agree, but that was then, this is now. I figure you'll wind up checking it out for yourself and come to your own conclusions.....
Either way I was pretty amazed that I could conference chat w/ Cap and Cobra (across the pond) and have it sound pretty much like we were talking in person..... sitting on stools at the local pub..

makntraks

[DereX888]

In a way I agree, but that was then, this is now. I figure you'll wind up checking it out for yourself and come to your own conclusions.....

makntraks

Oh yes, I did I gave it a try last year, just when it came out. I havent found anything new in it back then, and since all my buddies already were using MSN Messenger (or 'smarter' ones were proficient enough to even tame the beast itself - NetMeeting) thus I had no need to install yet another chat soft.

Have they fixed that echo problem yet? And you say it sounds good now (it wasnt when I was trying it) so I assume they've finally get rid of that lousy LBC audio codec (IIRC) it was using back then

Seriously - I spent good 2 years to 'force' all my buddies to switch to MSN Messenger from all sort of of ICQ/AOL/other crap in the past, and I wouldnt even dream of talking all of them now to switch to yet another chat software... unless there would be some significant change or something
My smaller messenger window:
(strictly good buddies and close friend My other nickname has 4x longer list lol)

[Faustus]

In a way I agree, but that was then, this is now. I figure you'll wind up checking it out for yourself and come to your own conclusions.....

makntraks

Oh yes, I did I gave it a try last year, just when it came out. I havent found anything new in it back then, and since all my buddies already were using MSN Messenger (or 'smarter' ones were proficient enough to even tame the beast itself - NetMeeting) thus I had no need to install yet another chat soft.

Have they fixed that echo problem yet? And you say it sounds good now (it wasnt when I was trying it) so I assume they've finally get rid of that lousy LBC audio codec (IIRC) it was using back then

Seriously - I spent good 2 years to 'force' all my buddies to switch to MSN Messenger from all sort of of ICQ/AOL/other crap in the past, and I wouldnt even dream of talking all of them now to switch to yet another chat software... unless there would be some significant change or something
My smaller messenger window:
(strictly good buddies and close friend My other nickname has 4x longer list lol)

The idea of getting all your friends to use the same chat program is good and all, but why try and have them use the MS product? What if you have a friend who hates them? or uses a mac and refuses to install it? For that matter why are we not all using Jabber.

[DereX888]

Hear ya.
And agree with "no MS products" stand point.
However few years ago there was truly no other choice which came down to either ICQ (with one of the sucky audio plugins), or one of the unknown and long forgotten by today progs (AOL was for members only IIRC, you had to pay, and it sucked as bad as it does today anyway). MSN Messenger back then was the only out there with acceptable voice quality, for free, and easy enough to be used by our GFs/Wifes/Moms/etc etc as well
Im sure had Skype launched in 98-99 it would have been world-wide phenomenon by now. But it didnt. Im sure anyone with large group of friends on any existing chat network most likely will not switch to using Skype even if it is the best chatware out there. Only Jabber-type killer app capable of running on major current networks may change this (before I thought Trillian was it, but when it became mature - it also became another payware out of the sudden, and I lost hope).

[daamon]

All,

I reckon using Skype would have practical benefits (i.e. explaining or talking through a solution) as well as the obvious fun 'n' games that'll be had by the OT regulars (you know who you are... )

So, what d'ya reckon to this?

I've done a bit of hunting around coz I've recently moved to Oz (friends and family mostly in the UK) so I wanted to find a free (cheap) / good quality solution I could use on my PC.

Skype, to me, came out on top. They're also planning an upgrade so video is possible too... Before now, I've used Yahoo Messenger, but the framerate is a bit lame and the audio wasn't too hot...

It could also be used to co-ordinate Will "producer" Hay's new movie...

[DereX888]

You never get better videochat than having direct connections (as Ive said earlier - direct IP to IP, bypassing any server - be it skype's, msn's, aol's, yahoo's etc etc). If you want good vchat (well- only as good as your connection is) then I suggest good old NetMeeting. The only problem with NM is its ugly GUI, but to me more important is sound quality and maximum possible framerate rather than pretty GUI
And BTW - thats one another reason why we (me & friends) still stick to MSN Messenger, it had video since begining.

Lets hope Skype evolves into something practical with all the bells'n'whistles soon Ill be first to dump M$oft chatware.

[daamon]

This thread has got me looking further into chat / video conferencing and I found this:

iSpQ-VideoChat v7.0

It does voice and video. The feedback suggests both are excellent. 1/2 million downloads. Supports Mac (not sure about Linux).

Has anyone used it?
Any comments - positive or negative?

I shall probably try both coz I want to fin one that's good for friends and family back in the UK. Post if you want me to provide feedback, and what aspects to feedback on...

UPDATE: Well, I hooked up with Hardcoreuss (although he was only typing) on Skype and he said he could hear me as clear as a bell, and he's on dial-up. Yoda313 joined us and I heard him very well too. No time lag on speaking or typing.

I've installed iSpQ VideoChat, but not yet hooked up with anyone. The interface is pictured below:



I get the impression that it'll be a good tool - just have to see how good the video and audio are...

Anyone got any thoughts on having a field for a Skype ID on the users profile page:

www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=242454