Jamie's Random Musings
Various thoughts and adventures, including but not limited to Linux, Windows XP and Widows Vista, and assorted bits of hardware new and old.
Monday 15 September 2008, 5:39 PM
SightSpeed to Announce Linux Version
Apparently it will at least initially be announced under the Dell Video Chat powered by SightSpeed name. I suppose that this is because Dell was a major motivation in getting this done, so that they could offer it on their mini-notebooks with Linux the same way that they offer it on their regular Windows notebooks.
This says to me that Dell really puts a lot of faith in the Dell Video Chat product, if it is important enough to them that it figures into their new product releases like this. That's very good news, both for SightSpeed and for Dell customers. There has been a lot of discussion saying that a Linux version would never be worth the investment it took to produce it, that Linux users are only looking for free software and would never sign up for paid or subscription services, and such. I have never agreed with that, but there hasn't been much hard evidence to go on.
Another really important factor about this is how it might develop in the future. It sounds like a lot of the mini-notes will have built-in 3G wireless support (HSPA). I have been testing the alpha release of Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex), and one of the big changes in it is improved support for GPRS/UMTS/HSPA cards. It looks like they are trying to make it as easy as they have already done with WiFi networking. Assuming that succeeds, you can then have a really portable video calling system - no more running around looking for an adequate WiFi hotspot. Here in Switzerland HSPA coverage is already very good, and I can attest to the fact that I have made video calls over an HSPA connection, and they were good!
Here's a good example of how the availability of SightSpeed on the Dell notebooks with Linux might pay off for both of them. I have recently been thinking that I would get a mini-note for my partner (that's also why I have been asking questions about switching users from Windows to Linux), she has always said that she liked the idea of a notebook, but she didn't want to lug around a full sized (full weight) notebook just for email and web surfing. I had just about decided to get her an Asus, as I have seen a few good offers here for them. I'm glad that I haven't bought one yet, because I'll be looking very seriously at the Dell mini-notes now, and I probably wouldn't even have considered them before. Giving her SightSpeed on top of everything else really makes a difference.
I can hardly wait to get my hands on SightSpeed for Linux - on top of everything else, it will mean that I can finally wipe Skype from my Linux systems
What an excellent way to start a week!
jw 15/9/2008
PreviousComments on this post
Sweet Lord, are you kidding me?
Its hard enough to get people to install Skype which theyve heard about, now we have to switch to another platform.
I like identi.ca because its streamlined and cross platform.
I have more than enough video and IM, do we need another?
Let me know when you see that mythical Dell Ubuntu Mini 9.
Its not mentioned on Dell Uk or any other Dell site but the US.
Missed the back to school crowd, got checked by Acer who dropped the price on their netbook and now Linux is absent from the launch.
Where is your Linux saviour now Dell?
I dont see many people trying to get their contacts to switch (I can install it no problem but like almost every IM, until I get someone else to do it also, its useless) but I can definitely see the multi-conferencing being interesting to companies of all size.
We send a lot of our tech staff on the road and use video heavily.
The improved support for GPRS/UMTS/HSPA could be a HUGE deal very shortly.
That's why I dont see much reason to switch right now but that could always change.
My experience has apparently been exactly the opposite of yours. Iv'e had trouble getting people to install Skype because Skype is hard to install and get working properly, it has problems with video freezing, audio not working at all, Skype itself crashing, or causing the entire computer to crash with a BSOD, and when you try to contact Skype for help you get totally ignored. I think the question is not "do we need another Video IM", but rather "do we need a Video IM program which works, reliably, and has decent customer support". I have used both Skype and SightSpeed extensively, and I have never seen SightSpeed have a single one of those problems - and they have excellent customer support, to boot, whereas on Skype the most common conversation consists of "Can you hear me now?", "Can you see me now", and "Why is your picture not moving?". I have had no problem at all getting people to switch to SightSpeed, the reaction has consistently been "Wow, this works great, and it's so easy to set up and use, why did I spend so long fighting with Skype!".
SightSpeed multi-party video chat is not only interesting to business users, we use it for family chats quite frequently. Skype has been mumbling vague promises about adding multi-party video for over a year now, with no results.
As for the timing of the Dell release, I don't know or particularly care if they were aiming at the back-to-school market and missed it, or perhaps their target all along has been the Christmas season. It is much more important to me they get it right rather than get it out fast.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
jw 17/9/2008
