REVIEW: Skype 4.0.0.206
One of the most often read articles on Pelokee is my previous Skype review. The new version of Skype is finally out, so what better way to follow up a hit than to review its successor? The new version of Skype offers a new look and feel, improved sound processing, and larger video screens. Part of the new look includes detachable windows and a default screen that takes up a lot more real estate on your screen…
If you are familiar with Skype, adjusting to the new look should not cause you any significant delays. The whole experience feels richer than the last version, so newcomers will quickly come to love the application. The detachable windows are a major plus because you can position the various screens wherever you want them.
The video windows finally allow you to adjust the size of your own video view, which was a very nice feature to see.
Not much has changed with the actual usage of Skype, which is nice because it was a pretty stable product to begin with. Mostly, users will notice a difference in the visual richness and control of the interface. I never really noticed any problems with sound quality up to this point, so it may take a while for me to notice any difference in the “improved sound quality”, but users with slower Internet connections may notice it sooner. Let me know if you have any insight on this!
On my Windows XP laptop, I was able to use the “Check for Updates” selection to find and install the new version. On my Vista desktop, the check failed to find the new version, so I had to manually download and install it. Not sure if that is an anomaly with me or not.
Let’s take a quick look…
For reference, the “old” version of Skype looked like this when you started it up:
In the new version, the default start screen looks like this:
Aside from that big, empty, blue box on right, notice that the section tabs have been moved from the top to a more Outlook style of expandable tabs along the lower part of the left side of your window.
Don’t fret, though. You can banish that guy pretty quickly with the “Compact View” control:
That toggle button is very useful because that extra space displays just about everything you’d need when in a call – video, IM, profile information for the person you are talking to, and a meter that is supposed to show you how well the quality of the call is at any given time.
Stock photos:
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Comments
Hi there.
I have been trialling the new version over the past several days now. I found your review of the new Skype 4.0 version to be a little short and limited. I have been using Skype for two years on nearly a daily basis. Chat is what i mainly use, but occasionally voice, and a small portion of voice communications are with video. I am guessing your use volume of usage might even be in the opposite order to myself, which might explain why i have a very different opinion about the new version.
In my opinion out of personal use;
> A serious amount of features and information previous available, have been taken away.
> Forced into extra clicks that did not have to be done before.
> Harder to use and read. More particularly the chat window.
I wonder if the Skype marketing department have created such a poor experience in the chat window to purposely steer the chat people away and steer people towards their commercially related offerings. Unless these people have suddenly become seriously incompetent, i have not other thought of what might be possible at the moment.
The chat window that i use, has too many things to mention about it. It might be ok for people who don’t type much, who prefer a narrower chat screen, and don’t use the chat window often. For volume chat users like myself and my friends (none of whom like it so far), it is an abysmal devolution.
My suggestion before even considering trying trying the move to the 4.0 version, is to download the 3.8 version from the skype web site while you still can. Otherwise, you might be as disappointed with what what i experienced as a very serious downgrade. If you want to download Versoin 3.8, go to the skype download page as provided in the link at the start of the blog article. Then to go to the bottom of the page and download the previous 3.8 version. The last “good one” for some of us. Others might be as pleased with some new things such as this blogger has been.
Mr Blogger, please update us with your review over time, as you begin to discover its many limitations over time. You may be ok with them, or you may not. That is, if you even use that much of it. No offense intended, but merely to point out that we as human beings can operate differently, and can have different needs, uses, ways, and perceptions of the same thing.
Skype 4 is fine, as you say – as soon as you set it back to compact mode. I use Skype mainly for voice and text chat, so for me the product has not changed a great deal.
I’m now using it in Windows 7, and I’ve missed some conversations thanks to the new non intrusive model in Windows 7.
Skype 4 just doesn’t seem to add any value, unless I am wrong, its the same old Skype, just looks a bit differant.