Finally - Video Calling from Logitech

Nice they are allowing that only one party needs to have a logitech webcam. As I have completely vanished Windows away and it is not available for Linux I have to keep using skype for now. Skype also has a Logitech quirk though, you can only get a high resolution in combination with logitech cams. On a netbook though you can't use a high resolution anyway due to the limited processor. On my home computer I have a logitech Quickcam pro and I have to say the image quality is excellent.

Posted by knakworst on Jun 18, 2009 1:20 PM

In my opinion and experience, the Skype restriction to a very small group of webcams for "High Quality Video" is completely arbitrary and unnecessary. When they first introduced HQ video, over 18 months ago, they said this restriction was "temporary", and that other cameras would be supported in the "near future". They lied, as usual.

I used Skype extensively at that time, and during the public beta test of HQ video I and many others proved that it worked just fine with a variety of other cameras. Skype chose to disregard that, and impose the bogus restriction when the final release came out. That contempt for their users, and their attitude, was one of the biggest reasons that I stopped using Skype, removed it from all of my computers, and will never install it again - and I have to say in all honesty, I don't miss it. I also certainly don't miss wondering how they are going to jerk around their users in the next release, whether someone is going to hack into my Skype account and drain all the money (and Skype would subsequently blame me for being "careless", rather than taking responsibility for their own weaknesses), nor do I miss reading the Skype User Forums and seeing multiple posts every day from users desperate for help, who have sent requests to Skype "Customer Support" and haven't gotten a reply for days or weeks.

By the way, long-time readers here might recall that I was told specifically in a comment to my blog from the Chief Operating Officer of Skype that they had a new manager for the customer support group, and they had a "road map" that would lead them to a solution for these problems. Now, a year later, the problems are still the same, if not even worse; it looks like there have been a few "DETOURS" on the "road map". Duh.

Sorry for the rant... if anyone thinks the above is incorrect, I would be happy to hear evidence to the contrary. Even better, if anyone has PROOF that things have improved over the past 18 months, rather than stagnating or degenerating, please let us all hear about it. PROOF, not empty promises and lies. From what I can see, the only thing that has changed in the past 18 months is that Skype has spread their horrible "customer support" across even more platforms.

jw

Posted by J.A. Watson on Jun 18, 2009 1:41 PM