Hi,

I am running Sarge and Ubuntu. I have downloaded skype on Ubuntu and would like to know now if there is any specific piece of hardware i need to be able to use skype. So far it looks like all the usb phones out there are all windows system specific and i've not wanted to waste my money on a piece of hardware that isn't gonna work.
So, is there one model that is particularly recommended for Linux users? or is nothing to do with hardware and simply down to specific Linux distribution (Sarge or Ubuntu in my case) supporting skype or not?

As i've not been able to get any guidance from the Skype website or anywhere else including retail outlets, i hope to find some answers here.

Thanking you in advance,

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sophtpaw

[quote=sophtpaw]would like to know now if there is any specific piece of hardware i need to be able to use skype.[/quote]
You'll need a sound card. Most users (as my self) prefer to use a headset, Logitech's USB headset model 250 and 350 are both excellent choices (use them both 250 at work, 350 at home) but I guess most will work.

The main benefit with a USB headset is that you get a USB sound card as well. Because of that you can keep streaming your mp3s through the standard speakers while using the headset for skype.

As for the question ("skype or hype?"), the answer is most definitely "skype".

[quote=fhe][quote=sophtpaw]would like to know now if there is any specific piece of hardware i need to be able to use skype.[/quote]
You'll need a sound card.

Aguess, i have a soundcard, but what does that then have to do with all the phones i have seen so far specifying windows os. It's not that Mac users or Linux users do not have a soundcard.

Most users (as my self) prefer to use a headset, Logitech's USB headset model 250 and 350 are both excellent choices (use them both 250 at work, 350 at home) but I guess most will work.
O.k i'll look at that. Although what i actually want is a usb phone, cordless preferably.

The main benefit with a USB headset is that you get a USB sound card as well. Because of that you can keep streaming your mp3s through the standard speakers while using the headset for skype. How is that different from a skype phone? Does one with a phone not get a USB sound card as well?

As for the question ("skype or hype?"), the answer is most definitely "skype".[/quote]

Well, it seems for alot of Linux users there is alot of difficulty getting skype going, hence hype. But i am excited about getting skype to work too. Just that yet again it is alot of work trying to get something to work on Linux where windows users have all the support. When are these people going to realise and make things with LInux os users in mind as well?!

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sophtpaw

The big problem with a usb headset is that it is impossible to set skype to ring the pc speakers, then use the headset to talk.
now, if skype used ALSA... http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=33441

[quote=sophtpaw]Aguess, i have a soundcard, but what does that then have to do with all the phones i have seen so far
specifying windows os. It's not that Mac users or Linux users do not have a soundcard.[/quote]
Nothing, but you don't need a phone to use skype.
[quote=sophtpaw]Does one with a phone not get a USB sound card as well?[/quote]
Probably, if you can find one with drivers for your OS.

[quote=sophtpaw]Well, it seems for alot of Linux users there is alot of difficulty getting skype going[/quote]
Which is strange. Installing it is a matter of point and click, getting the sound to work well requires a search in the forum. The biggest problem seems to be the existing bug that screws things up if you try to make a second call to quick after you've hung up onother, hopefully they'll fix that in a future release.
[quote=sophtpaw]Just that yet again it is alot of work trying to get something to work on Linux where windows users have all the support.[/quote]
Sounds like you would prefer Windows. I don't agree with you because I havn't put more work into installing most of my applications on the linux boxes than I would have done on my Mac or Windows box.

[quote=sophtpaw]When are these people going to realise and make things with LInux os users in mind as well?![/quote]
Skype obviously does things with linux users in mind but appart from that I guess the boxed answer is "when linux has 90% of the market and MacOSX and Windows split the rest". If you can reach 90% of the market with the effort n, there have to be something in it if you should spend 2n to get an extra 5%.

However, It's not skype's fault that some hardware vendors build proprietary hardware with neither linux drivers nor documentation enough to make it possible for others to write drivers.

[quote=fhe][quote=sophtpaw]Aguess, i have a soundcard, but what does that then have to do with all the phones i have seen so far
specifying windows os. It's not that Mac users or Linux users do not have a soundcard.[/quote]
Nothing, but you don't need a phone to use skype.

What do i need. Solutions here would be more welcome. Although if there are any phones out there that are Linux supported i would like to hear about them too.

[quote=sophtpaw]Does one with a phone not get a USB sound card as well?[/quote]
Probably, if you can find one with drivers for your OS.

Exactly - "IF" which is why i posted this question in the hope that someone might have come across one that they can tell me about. Please tell me something i don't know?

[quote=sophtpaw]Well, it seems for alot of Linux users there is alot of difficulty getting skype going[/quote]
Which is strange. Installing it is a matter of point and click, getting the sound to work well requires a search in the forum. The biggest problem seems to be the existing bug that screws things up if you try to make a second call to quick after you've hung up onother, hopefully they'll fix that in a future release.
[quote=sophtpaw]Just that yet again it is alot of work trying to get something to work on Linux where windows users have all the support.[/quote]
Sounds like you would prefer Windows. I don't agree with you because I havn't put more work into installing most of my applications on the linux boxes than I would have done on my Mac or Windows box.

No, it doesn't sound like that. And i think you are in cookoo land if you are telling me that installing things is as quick or easy as it is with other os. That is not a betrayal or eveidence that i prefer windows or Mac for that matter. But it is a fact. If it isn't for you - good for you.

[quote=sophtpaw]When are these people going to realise and make things with LInux os users in mind as well?![/quote]
Skype obviously does things with linux users in mind but appart from that I guess the boxed answer is "when linux has 90% of the market and MacOSX and Windows split the rest". If you can reach 90% of the market with the effort n, there have to be something in it if you should spend 2n to get an extra 5%.

Yes, exactly what i was saying. Linux users are marginalised because we represent a smaller slice of teh market

However, It's not skype's fault that some hardware vendors build proprietary hardware with neither linux drivers nor documentation enough to make it possible for others to write drivers.[/quote]

No it is not Skype's fault or Linux's fault, and i hope you weren't misreading me into putting those words into my mouth. But that is the problem for sure. What is the solution though, other than switching to windows which, NO, i do not want to do.

Again, Can someone tell me which pieces of hardware kit work with the Skype software on Linux.

thank you


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sophtpaw

[quote=sophtpaw]No, it doesn't sound like that. And i think you are in cookoo land if you are telling me that installing things is as quick or easy as it is with other os. [/quote]
I use Skype on Windows, Mac and linux. To install it on linux, all I do is to point my browser to the download page, answering "Yes" when I get the question from Mandrake if I want to install it. The last time I installed it on Mac or Windows it wasn't that much easier...

[quote=sophtpaw]No it is not Skype's fault or Linux's fault, and i hope you weren't misreading me into putting those words into my mouth. [/quote]
Well, setting the title to "skype or hype?" sort of gave the impression that you weren't impressed with how skype works on linux and not that you were missing hardware support. I was probably misreading, sorry for that.

[quote=sophtpaw]Again, Can someone tell me which pieces of hardware kit work with the Skype software on Linux.[/quote]
This is what what I did initially. I found a piece of hardware that I liked and put the model, linux and skype into a google question. It turned out that a lot of people was using the combination so I took the risk of burning $25 on something that was likely to work (and it did).

However, you point your finger on a problem. It would help alot if Skype had a list with hardware that is known to work an all, some or none of the linux distributions.

[quote=fhe][quote=sophtpaw]No, it doesn't sound like that. And i think you are in cookoo land if you are telling me that installing things is as quick or easy as it is with other os. [/quote]
I use Skype on Windows, Mac and linux. To install it on linux, all I do is to point my browser to the download page, answering "Yes" when I get the question from Mandrake if I want to install it. The last time I installed it on Mac or Windows it wasn't that much easier...

I have installed Skype on Ubuntu and Sarge and that is easy - agreed. The tricky bit is whether it will work. I sense already i may have sound issues in Sarge at least.


[quote=sophtpaw]No it is not Skype's fault or Linux's fault, and i hope you weren't misreading me into putting those words into my mouth. [/quote]
Well, setting the title to "skype or hype?" sort of gave the impression that you weren't impressed with how skype works on linux and not that you were missing hardware support. I was probably misreading, sorry for that.

You are right i'm not impressed with how Skype works on Linux from the point of view of the lack of hardware support.


[quote=sophtpaw]Again, Can someone tell me which pieces of hardware kit work with the Skype software on Linux.[/quote]
This is what what I did initially. I found a piece of hardware that I liked and put the model, linux and skype into a google question. It turned out that a lot of people was using the combination so I took the risk of burning $25 on something that was likely to work (and it did).


O.k, Could you please tell me what that device is? I don't want to experiment or reinvent the wheel. I just want to use a piece of kit that appears to be working for the majority of the Linux community particularly those using either Sarge or Ubuntu, to give me the best chance of it working on my system too.

However, you point your finger on a problem. It would help alot if Skype had a list with hardware that is known to work an all, some or none of the linux distributions.[/quote]

I agree with you 100%. I am surprised that there is not a page on their website clarifying the skype/linux/hardware issue at all. With perhaps recommendations of phones that work best on LInux perhaps even distro specific if needed. This of course ties into the hardware point made already. One is guided to downloading the software and then on the page of phones they are all listed as requiring windows, which i found confusing.

If i could have the name of a piece of kit including model name etc. i can get on with getting on with it,

Thank you,

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livingdaylight