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From: john@rarebooksinjapan.com
Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan
Subject: Re: Skype: Why does anyone use anything else?
Date: 25 Apr 2006 16:06:12 -0700
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Declan Murphy wrote:

> 1. I often experience a time lag (esp. with Skype Out). The
> time lag is not long, but if the person on the other end of the
> conversation is from Dublin's northside it isn't possible to
> actually communicate.

Merry quips in questionable taste about *anyone* communicating with
people from the north side of Dublin aside, I found there was actually
more time lag on the regular telephone, using the callback service,
than on Skype Out. Some years ago, now, I bought a few quids' worth of
credit from an online company that must have been a kind of
proto-version of Skype, and the time lags and stutterings were so bad
it just wasn't worth bothering. Things have certainly come a long way
since then.

> 2. If I'm going to be on the phone for a while - ie talking to a female
> (mothers, aunts, sisters, girlfriends etc) then it is nice to be able
> to do something else. Especially since most of the conversation
> coming from my end will just be a series of "yes", "I see", "really?",
> "aha" etc to let them know I haven't nodded off. Nodding off is easier
> to do when seated, so I like to be able to walk around, stir the pot in
> the kitchen, raid the fridge for booze, check the cricket or AFL on the
> tellie etc. I'm sure a wireless handset exists somewhere, or will soon,
> but at the moment I just ask family to call my regular number.

I see what you mean, but since I never used the cordless phone anyway,
I would always find myself stuck by the phone, and have to shout "Hang
on a minute!" when the pot needed stirring (or whatever). I counted
myself lucky if I had a seat to hand before picking up the phone, and
doubly lucky if the paper was within reach, preferably open at the
cryptic crossword.

Now the range of possible activities is extended to include things like
checking the headlines on the BBC website and reading postings to
newsgroups. I can even receive the call on the speakers, rather than a
headset, and still hear what people are saying from the other side of
the room (though I agree it's a bit of a hassle having to rush back to
the mike to throw in the odd, "Hmm!" or "Oh, I know!" or whatever.

John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com