I have tried to get Skype to work in several Linux versions. Not many worked well for me.
I am now running Vidalinux which is an offshoot of Gentoo only with an easy installer.
I used the emerge program to install Skype 1.3.0.37_API and it does work well. I have had reports like:
This is the best you have sounded using Skype. It used to be kinda poppy and garbled but now you sound more natural.
I like it and will recommend it to friends.
Thanks for Skype. So much better than Vonage.