nancicita

daveesl thanks for the info

ncounty

thank you so much for sharing this..... I just got back from europe and my beloveds sure did not like not being able to talk and be connected. I will plan to use this in the future.

My netbook comes with Skype already loaded up in it. One could just take the netbook to a coffee shop with free internet or, my hotel had free wireless internet and be set. The skype on a stick expands the possiblities for those without a laptop or netbook who have to use internet cafes.

daveesl

I'll top this, as more questions have arisen about using Skype.

moldyhotelsaregross

How large of a flash drive is needed in order to store all of the skype knowledge "away from the hard drive?"

This is just the info I was hoping to find this morning. THANK YOU!


So, the download price of $35ish dollars is paid only once, Right??

111op

The Skype software itself is free. Where do you see the $35?

If you want a Skype-in (is this what it's called) account, then you pay extra? There are also flat monthly fees for doing a bunch of things (for example you can arrange for call forwarding, etc.).

Otherwise you can always PAYG as necessary. I think each time you add $ to your account, you need to add at least $10.

111op

The Skype folder on my hard disk takes up 27 MB.

There should be some download reqs on the Skype website.

Looks like any flash drive (say 2 GB or above) should be more than adequate.

daveesl

There is no charge for the Skype software. As I have said in previous posts, the zip file I make available is nothing more than the normal skype program, a data folder and a small batch file that tells skype how to start up.

As to how big of a drive you need, very small works. Unless you are saving pictures, the amount of info saved is minor. I have some old 64 mb flashdrives laying around that I put it on. The actual program and other stuff is about 30 meg in size.

If you want to be able to call out to telephones, then you need Skype-Out, which is a pay-as-you-go plan. Create your skype account, deposit like $10 or $20 and you are ready to go. If you want people to be able to call you from phones, then you need Skype-In, which gives you a phone number. That cost is something like $40 or so per year. It isn't necessary.

VevaHeva

Hi Dave, have followed your instructions however cannot get the startskype.bat to work. DOS opens for a milisecond and then closes again, and nothing happens.
I can open Skype using the Skype.exe file however as you have explained this is maybe not ideal when at a internet cafe or other 'foreign' computer. Thanks, Veva

daveesl

Are you using Vista or XP?

You may need to tell your computer to allow a command window to appear. I've tried it on both Vista and XP and it worked fine, but then I don't have any security controls on these as they are in my home.

I'll try to replicate your problem, but I need to know which Operating System you are using.

MOMofONE

bumping
great info thanks for sharing

Maudie

Well done Dave, thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

daveesl

Be sure to also check out the VonageTalk thread I started, but only use it if you are already a Vonage customer.

Andrew

Although I took my laptop to Italy in 2007, it died (came back to life after a few days - whew!). In the meantime, I had fortunately installed on a USB flash drive something called "portable apps" - a bunch of programs like Firefox and Skype that can run on any PC with a USB 2.0 connector (nowadays that's just about any PC; in 2007 there were still a few ancient PCs in the internet cafes that had the very old/slow USB 1.1 ports - probably not a problem anymore). I also had my travel documents on the USB drive - so I really was able to get by at internet cafes for a few days without the laptop.

Anyway, portable apps are great for browsing the web with your existing bookmarks, using Skype with your own login, etc. And it's MUCH more secure (in my view) to run Firefox from a USB flash drive than from some generic PC at an internet cafe, because a dozen other people that day have been using the same Firefox. Yes, you can erase your history...but how do you really know? If you use Firefox and Skype off the flash drive, your history is stored THERE, not on the PC at the internet cafe.

More info here:

http://portableapps.com/apps

For whatever reason, Skype is NOT included there (probably because it's proprietary), but the instructions above in this thread can be used to add it to the portable apps you would install on the USB drive - that's what I did. Or just google for "portable skype."

sarge56

bookmarking. Thanks Dave!

daveesl

Yeah, Skype isn't normally a "portable" app. That is why the batch file is written and we create the Data folder. The reason why is because they want to sell you their own version of this on a little USB drive, with a headset hookup (which often doesn't work).

Just remember, you must have the batch file detailing how to save the data and that skype is running on a "removable" media. If you don't want to use my zip file, I also gave directions above on how to write your own batch file.

dave

TDudette

Thanks davees!, am saving this for future reference. Sorry if I missed this, but does one use Skype everywhere or just for international calls?

111op

You can use Skype as a free IM facility (like MSN or Yahoo Messenger) or to make local or international calls (which you would have to pay a small fee for).

By the way, didn't I read somewhere that there's a possibility that Skype may go away? I think E-Bay sold it but there's some lawsuit with the founders?

daveesl

No, it isn't going away, EBay is getting ready to do an IPO on it, bringing it public. I'm not exactly sure that I'd be jumping on that bandwagon, see Vonage. BUT...Skype does claim to have several hundred million members and I'm sure a fair number do what I do.

Andrew

There are alternatives to Skype such as Gizmo, which I have yet to use:

http://gizmo5.com/pc/