Things to consider adding...

[rayjazz21]

Yeah, I'll be the kid of the group again and add that Skype has some pretty hilarious smile icons.

[ecocks]

There is one other benefit on Skype which I don't THINK (could be uninformed on this) the others have.  With Skype, I COULD put in my credit card, buy some credits and call into the United States (or most anywhere else) from my computer console without using my cell phone.

But, if it doesn't fit your situation, don't use it.  In another few years, I suspect the government or regulated technicoms will be issuing these anyway.  It is just too good to last as a free process.

[Carlushika]

Ed, Skype to Skype is free and, according to them, always will be. As I have often said on other posts, the reception is quite acceptable even if video used too. We find it much better than MSM, Yahoo or ICQ.

It is large to download and so I took a copy to Ukraine on my memory pen and simply loaded up all our friends and relatives. It is so good that I often think about buying a second PC to get a look in since my beloved is quite capable of one or more hours in conversation!

[Vera]

Some of you migh want to check out this as an alternative to Skype.
I use both Skype and Voipstunt. International calls to land lines are cheaper through Voipstunt then through Skype(again not PC to PC but to land lines- PC to PC is free on Voipstunt as well).
http://www.voipstunt.com/en/index.html

[ecocks]

Regarding Skype

I only use Skype for PC-to-PC communications but it is handy to know that I have the option of pulling the card and making a call to a landline.  Most of the people I would care to talk to stateside have a PC and I can arrange free conversations with them.  So, only for emergencies.

Somewhat like Nik, I am not crazy about installing more and more stuff on my PC and piling up more and more user ID's.  AIM was my primary choice choice for a LONG time and eventually I added on Yahoo, but Skype has more higher-level users and is more organized and businesslike.

I really doubt I will need the PC-to-landline connection but, you never know....

[Carlushika]

Skype = 30.1 mb, hardly any space at all and a piece of cake to configure. Front-end available in many languages using a simple switch on the menu.

The size of hard-drives these days should encourage the addition of some excellent and, in many cases, free to use programs.

If your hard-drive is filling up, then an external hard drive can be added quite cheaply (as I have done). In fact, practically all I have on my c: drive is programs.

Computers are wonderful but then, after years and years of exposure, perhaps I am a bit blinkered.

[editor_moscow]

Hi. I agree with Nik that the location option should also encompass the many other regions of Ukraine that tend to be under-represented on this forum. I, myself am currently living in the Ternopol Region.

I think it would be best, if possible, to let people specify where they live in general (rather than just focusing on the nearest metro, which is very city-specific). There are expats in many settlements right across the country and it would be nice to know where they are living. As well, there are a good number of subscribers to expat.ua that are not even located in Ukraine, either because they have recently left (temporarily or otherwise) or because they have not yet arrived, though they are planning to. That would be ideal if there were simply a line for location, where a user could simply enter the place where he/she is living.

Also, regarding the Skype thing, I think it would be nice if users would be allowed to enter their contact details themselves, apart from just their username/number. That way, all contact coordinates could be included without demonstrating any bias to Skype. The contact options could include AIM, Skype, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and others.

My experience with computer to computer Skype conversations is that it cuts out every 5-7 minutes and produces an unpleasant screeching feedback sound. Although I am not connecting dial-up modem, my internet connection is still not the quickest available.  As a result, I have switched to Google Talk, which allows two gmail users to 'talk' with one another online for free. It doesn't cut out like Skype did, and no nasty feedback. Of course, for those with very high speed connections, Skype or Google Talk are both probably great options.
 
Cheers

[Carlushika]

We haven't encountered any problems with Skype dropping every 5 to 7 minutes. That comes from your old poster whose wife can easily spend up to 90 minutes in video chat with her fmaily and friends.

I wonder whether location and line quality plays a big part in this. All our contacts bar one are Odessa based and possibly the larger cities have better connections. To cope with slower connection speeds, you can set the video to email size, 320x240 rather than the fancy 4mb picture size.

It might also be worth looking at the webcam quality. We use a good quality Logitech with built in microphone - less than GBP 20 on eBay. In fact, we have bought another to take back to Ukraine with us.



Screeching (feedback) usually occurs when microphone and speakers are placed too close together so you could try moving them further apart.  Also, if you have free standing speakers, try moving them a little further from the monitor and any bluetooth equipment.

It certainly gives much greater pleasure to see who you happen to be speaking to.

[Carlushika]

Although, as I said, we have not encountered any drop outs using Skype, the latest download announces the following changes:

Focus on call quality
Major improvements in sound quality, which mean significantly reduced background noise, less delay, fewer call drops and cut‑outs.

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