I'm glad I just bought a Belkin N router.

I have never used Skype but the new netbook I ordered has a camera to do so and I'd like to try it.

Is Skype easy?

Skype is very easy to install and use. Once installed you would search for your contacts (ask them for the handle they use to make life easy) you then make contact. Be sure to add a personal note so they realise it is you and not some whacko wanting to pester. And yes, that happens occasionally but can be stopped, see next paragraph.

Once installed click Tools and Options then on the Privacy tab make sure you are set to only receive calls from those you know and not any old stranger.

While chatting you can send photos to each other or files if you wish. Do not use the desktop mic in front of the speakers because the sound coming from the speakers goes back into the mic a fraction of a second later and makes for a very lousy chat. Perhaps your camera will come with the mic included, if so that is great. Just set the camera on top of the monitor and that avoids all the cross sound.

Don't add too much info on the personalising, I say I am near Niagara Falls, Canada rather than the small town not far away and I offer only my first name. Your choice of course. You will not be disappointed if you have family living any distance from you.

You can also buy time to call landline telephones around the world. Last time I bought it was about US$14 (10 Euros) for 10 hours of talk time. not a bad deal.

Thanks, I wasn't clear, the webcam is built in to the netbook I just bought. I'll go check out
Skype

Skyped with my friend. Unfortunately the video was blotchy, pixelated and froze up several times. Also dropped the call several times as well. Was using the netbook right near the router...

"Skyped with my friend. Unfortunately the video was blotchy, pixelated and froze up several times. Also dropped the call several times as well. Was using the netbook right near the router..."

What are the specs on the netbook? And what's your connection speed?

Skype can be pretty CPU intensive, especially if you're doing video. And it takes a lot of bandwidth.

If you are chatting with a friend you can turn the video off, it is is grand kids that is different. You would want to see them :~)

Some days Skype to Skype can be perfect but other days it can get fragmented and calls dropped, this can be accompanied by Skype crashing on the problem machine. Video quality is dependant on the cameras and other internals on each computer, there are good, better, best cameras out there.

Talking with my BIL I like his camera on so I can see the reflection of his screen on his spectacles, it is a primitive way of keeping tabs on if and when he changes screens if he will not go on Teamviewer that particular day. As a stroke victim he has terrible control of the mouse much of the time.

The netbook has Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Intel Celeron SU2300 core 2 duo 1.2ghz
1M L2 Cache, 800MHz Front Bus Speed
160GB (5400 RPM) SATA Hard Drive
2 gb DDR2 RAM
Acer crystal eye webcam

Comcast cable internet, not sure of speed
new Belkin N router, no difference in speed noticed using router on desktop vs plugged directly in to cable. Downloads very fast. Netbook seems as fast as the desktop to me.

The battery was low on the netbook, not sure if that makes a difference? I've never used Skype before. I did not have anything else running on the netbook (that I know of) except AVAST free antivirus, Spyware Blaster and Zone Alarm free firewall.

My friend said he had similar issues with pixelated image and image freezing and voice being choppy. Don't know his specs.

I agree that Skype quality can depend on many factors. However, my two grown daughters who have Apple laptops always have a great picture, while mine was almost always crappy regardless of which of four computers I used: a new, high-end Vaio, a good quality Dell with a high-res screen, a new netbook, or an old HP with a clip-on webcam. Then, as I mentioned in my original post, I got a new router and all 4 of my computers now produce great video calls. The problem with Skype is that it's often hard to figure out which of many factors is the weak link.

buyorsell-
Those netbook specs look good. The low battery should not make a difference because the computer will shut down when it can't function properly anymore. Likewise, a cable connection is generally so fast that this shouldn't be a consideration.

If you have a friend who has decent Skype quality, take your computer there and see if that makes a difference. If it doesn't make a difference, it would mean that the problem is in your computer, rather than with your router or internet connection.

I have never liked skype.
Yahoo and Live messengers work fine for me.
And for most other people in the world to.

They all do video, send and recieve sms, do voice. Make pc to phone calls. What good is skype,, everybody seems to complain like its a product they paid good money for. Its just another instant messenger.