Skype?

[Sportster]

. . .

 

[Ste11aeres]

Skype is free; you download it onto your computer; the workings of it are pretty self explanatory; once you've got it on your computer you just click on the obvious things.

 

[zurb]

It was one of the earlier free calling over ip apps with text, voice or video. Calls over the web are free, but you can pay at local rates to call a conventional phone. Microsoft bought it out and it comes bundled with Win10 now I believe.
Its past its heyday, and there are other better and more secure options.
By default, its on all the time incase anyone tries to contact you. At my old work we were banned from having it sitting idle as it had the habit of acting as a server for others, using your bandwidth to route other traffic. Not so good if you are on a per MB contract! Don't know if that is still true or not.

 

[zurb]

If they have a camera, and you don't, I think it still works. You will see them, but they won't see you.

 

[zurb]

You don't actually need a mic either. Often when trouble shooting, one person will be on video, and the other is typing.
But yes, they would probably like you to have both video and sound.

 

[zurb]

Skype is fine for what you want to do, especially if your friends already have it.
Viber seems the app of choice among my friends.
I suspect now that FB has video chat in messenger, many people will use it simply because its convenient.
My last employer who was security conscious preferred VSee.

 

[zurb]

Easiest to download from the skype website rather than Microsoft's, I think.

 

[zurb]

One of my weekly routines (Aspie list thing) is to update Windows. I keep seeing something about Skype on the Windows site. Since I've not needed it, I didn't check the box. Is the one on the Windows site different?

Only 'cos when I went to the Skype site it offered a plain vanilla ordinary version. On the Microsoft site I had to search, and it came up up with different versions which required more effort to determine what's suitable.

 

[Judge]

Something to consider given the security concerns. There are good reasons for not using that particular technology. Especially if pastoral liability might become an exposure for you personally. Privileged conversations and Skype...poor bedfellows IMO.

http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/skype_alternatives.php

 

[Judge]

Okay, Skype is up and working. However, I am finding that it takes a couple tries before it will properly load. Would this have something to do with the browser I use?

Could well be. Since Mozilla started distributing it's own video chat client "Firefox Hello" last year, they may not be too keen on optimally tweaking Skype.

You may be better off using another browser with Skype that indifferently supports multiple video chat clients. Kind of sad when a freeware app behaves in such a proprietary manner. But competition is keen even when the product is given away.

 

[Judge]

The more I look into this, the less certain I am of what is actually driving it all.

That Skype may not be technically better or worse than their competitors. But that it's about the size, resources and aggressiveness of those big name competitors who decided they have to have a piece of- or all of the action.

It's an old story. Some tiny startup invents the wheel. And inevitably at some point, the corporate giants of the industry decide that's a technology they should have with their own label. And if they can't obtain it through convention acquisition, they simply build their own proprietary version. And shut out or strangle the original creator altogether. Even my smart tv from Samsung is discontinuing Skype in June.

My guess would be that eventually you and all your friends will be coerced into migrating to a larger corporate video chat client.

 

[Mr Allen]

The Logitceh camera should work, just plug it into the USB slot on your PC, follow the on screen prompts to set it up and Bob's your second Cousin twice removed!