Skype v. MSN/iChat
Can anyone tell me what Skype will give me that I can't do over MSN. If we both have a webcam at each end does Skype give me any advantages?
Just wondering? Rannoch :) |
I think Sype just gives you more options around IP telephony, SkypeIn, SkypeOut etc. As for IM clients the functionality is pretty similar on a PC.
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I have now downloaded Skype and it looks OK - I like the fact it has an answerphone.
I am not sure exactly how billing works when I am travelling. Any expert advice would be welcome... ...e.g. I have a UK registered number and someone calls me on that number from a local UK landline and I am actually logged on in San Diego! I know that if I had a San Diego registration it would cost the full long distance price. Rannoch :) |
Skype on my Mac to another Mac regularly loses sound quality one end, usually after about 5 minutes but can be up to 30.
iChat - Can be a nightmare to connect, sometimes works first time, sometimes wont work at all. MSN - Can't do voice on the Mac plus mine wont stay connected for longer than 1 minute. All communication is between G5/iSight and iMacG5 built in mic. |
No doubting that iChat is simply awesome at video, however, behind a firewall and its a PITA.
Skype however just works. video is pretty good, no where near the league of iChat. |
I use skype on the mac daily and don't have any problems. As above its best for the telephony options to receive calls from regular phone users and make calls out.
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I cant make skype calls out as it just degrades and eventually cuts off and I end up having to call them from a landline....
It *may* well be my iSight. It does regularly decide to disappear from the menus... Looking forward to iChat with screen control ability (ala Timbuktu or ARDC) |
I use skype every day, either from XP or Vista (depending where I am) and not had any problem. I used it for a 4 hour teleconference to the USA last week from my Vista 64bit box, and the sound quality was fine.
I suspect it's less to do with the hardware, and more to do with the quality of the internet connection being used... |
I use Skype everyday for calls to NZ/Aus/Thailand and it has always been excellent. As good as my home phone. Dropped my bill from £150pm to £13 (basically just line rental)
I have to use MSN because that's what all my friends use. iChat is good but I don't know anyone who uses it. |
Im on NTL 2mb which obviously has slow uploads so it could well be that!
Odd that it just deteriorates over time though... |
I'm on NTL 10Mb, so that could well be the difference. Depends on traffic etc I expect...
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I would use iChat...except I'm the only one with a Mac who I chat to.
I use Skype without problems on both Mac and Windows. I've used Skype out from St Lucia to the UK. Call quality was excellent and the cost was very low too! |
Used skypeon my 1mb cable connection to USA quite a lot, sounds used to break up.
For international stuff I Would much rather use a service like Cheap International calls from Ratebuster : Ratebuster as i can use my home phone and it costs absolute peanuts. I even use it on my mobile to phone usa and it comes out of my free minutes! |
Another Skype user - saves me loads of money talking to relatives and friends around the globe.
Rannoch - if you're travelling you simply log onto Skype and you'll receive all calls to your UK based number via VoIP. Issue is that if you want non-Skype people from San Diego to contact you, you should register a US number too :) Simplest way to think about it is "on-net" and "off-net". On-net is free (Skype to Skype), off-net has a chargeable component (either for people calling you via a registered number, or for you using Skype out calling non-Skype users). I don't have a registered Skype number, but my parents (who moved to NZ a few years back) keep a UK number to make it cheap for non-Skype family to contact them. I simply make sure I only talk to friends who have Skype! Richard Richard |
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