[kwlug-disc] Skype (replacement)

[Keefer Rourke]

Hey all,

While it's all well and good to rant about proprietary software, it's better to find replacements and encourage others to make the switch as well. Skype on a whole is pretty crappy software, and its famous for crappy call quality.

One such replacement was mentioned (Discord) which is also proprietary and mostly focused at gamer audio chat... but a better anologue to Skype may be Wire [1].

Wire has open-source clients on all major platforms, is Linux friendly (distro-agnostic with AppImage), easy to use, and has excellent call quality. They also just recently open-sourced their server [2] and will be providing self-hosting instructions soon! Their hosted version is quite fine though and I've never really had a problem with call quality, video is usually crisp (network allowing), audio never falters, etc.

I've completely replaced Skype with it, and convincing others to switch isn't hard either (usually people tend to be pretty accommodating if they know there are issues with some software platform or another, and signing up for another account these days is just something people tend to do without thinking anyway).

Links:
[1] https://wire.com/en
[2] https://github.com/wireapp/wire-server


On November 25, 2017 8:00:10 PM EST, Ron Singh <ronsingh149 at gmail.com> wrote:
>Look at this GEM of a response from an MS tech staff --
>"Rhiza_E
><https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/profile/91e5e6e6-2254-4182-9537-93fbc222b012>
>replied
>on
>Microsoft
>
>Hi 52ROSt,
>
>Apparently, automatic log in when your PC starts is not supported in
>the
>new Skype for Windows, Mac and Linux - you always have to log in with
>your
>Skype account credentials. Meanwhile, you can share us your feedback
>here.
><https://go.skype.com/feedback?lang=en&tag=The%20new%20Skype%20for%20Windows,%20Mac%20and%20Linux&p=-2&e=FA34778>
>
>
>Please let us know if you have other questions.
>Rhiza_E
>Skype Community Moderator
>
>​How it is possible for any company to release a version that is
>essentially broken is so many ways is really quite beyond me.​
>Yep, even on the 5.5 Beta, one has to punch in one's sudo password (key
>ring) before Skype will login.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ron Singh
>"in transit, via mobile comm device"
>
>On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 6:43 PM, Ron Singh <ronsingh149 at gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>> I use Skype a lot.
>>
>> I depend on Skype for video comm with my kin,  with clients and IT
>> suppliers.
>>
>> On Windows, Skype 5.x was excellent in terms of reliability, clean
>layout
>> and easy of use.
>> I ditched Windows some 10 months ago and went all Linux, using Skype
>4.3
>> sourced from LM's software repo
>> On Linux, Skype 4.3 was excellent in terms of reliability, clean
>layout
>> and easy of use..
>> On Linux, Skype 5.x BETA was barely acceptable in terms of
>reliability,
>> clean layout and easy of use..
>>
>> I did the upgrade to Skype 8.11(X220 laptop with LM 18.1 Xfce)
>yesterday
>> and man, that was just a huge mistake -- issues pop up with many
>> much-needed configuration features removed.
>>
>> Most tellingly, upon boot-up and launching Skype 8.11, only the
>outline of
>> Skype can be seen on the desktop, nothing can be clicked on since the
>> outline just showed the contents of one's desktop. Only on minimizing
>to
>> tray and then un-minimizing or full-screening will bring up the
>proper
>> "Open Skype" page in all it's glory.
>>
>> I decided to purge the laptop of Skype 8.11 and tried again on other
>> laptops running LM 18.1, LM18.2 and Fedora 27, same thing. Same
>issue.
>> I have used old firmware, new firmware, 4.4LTS, 4.11, 4.13 kernels,
>but
>> yeah, same thing, same issue.
>> Every OS tried was a bare metal install, no VMs involved.
>>
>> Through tear-filled eyes full of rage, I grabbed the 5.5.0.1
>SkypeforLinux
>> Beta from here:
>> https://repo.skype.com/deb/pool/main/s/skypeforlinux/
>> and re-installed 5.5 Skype and now I am able to usefully Skype my
>behind
>> off again, feebly trying to ignore it's tablet-y interface.
>>
>> In a perfect world, I would ditch Skype and use something like
>Discord and
>> get on with it, but I need to communicate with with over 2 dozen
>folks via
>> video-chat and the only common denominator for them all is Skype.
>Sure
>> looks like nothing like this exists or will ever exist.
>>
>> In an even more perfect world, MS would release the SkypeforLinux
>source
>> to be worked on by the Linux community, but that's for an alternate
>reality.
>>
>> Sorry about the rant, just wanted to sound off a bit.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ron Singh
>> "
>> ​calming down with a glass of win"
>>

-- 
Regards,
Keefer C. Rourke

Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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