Posted on 08/13/2013 12:03:08 PM PDT by topher
There are various things out there. But I could not find something to set this up.
VoIP (Voice over IP) has been around for a long time.
I would not mind just using headphones and a microphone to make the phone call.
There is a website IPKall.com that will give you a Washington state telephone number.
But I am not sure how you set up the VoIP part. I tried to see if there were any other threads on this.
I guess using SKYPE is one way to do this, but not to call someone else who has a real telephone...
I used MagicJack on my XP computer. Every time they would upgrade their software, it would mess up MJ and it could not stay loaded or would fail to load when I started the computer.
When I went to Win7, I have the same problem. MJ won’t stay loaded or won’t load without several tries.
It has become more hassle than it is worth.
I haven’t tried the MJPlus that plugs into the router. I don’t want to waste any more money with MJ & Company.
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In a recent related thread, someone mentioned ObiHai. It plugs into the router. As I understand it, there is a one-time charge for the connection box only and no monthly charges. It accesses through Google Voice.
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MagicJack is too limited. You need at least ‘DozeXP and I run primarily linux boxen. For the times I need to run a win proggie, currently because I am converting older progs to run on Linux, I NEVER allow a machine running ‘Doze to connect to the internet. Far too easy to corrupt that OS.
? Has there been a recent change? The last adverse-tisement received in the mail from them still says in the fine print at the bottom that you need at least XP but it will work just fine with Ws7.
Mepis Linux. Love it. Simple, robust, and astoundingly easy for even a newbie to set up. Although I am playing with UberStudent Linux as well, mostly for the pre-configured Kindle app already comfortably running on it.
I have a multiline phone in my office - 1 is for home phone, 1 for the business line.
To answer a call, you have to press ACCEPT on the MagicJack console, and then quickly press the business line (line 3 at my house) to pick up the call. Then there is a small delay, but enough to make it sound weird to the caller.
Not enough weird to make a difference, but weird.
It’s ungainly.
I looked at Ooma too - expensive at triple MJ prices, and then you have to add their LINX thing so that you can use multiple home extensions (should you want it to replace, say, Comcast).
Still, with the equipment cost, Ooma is cheaper than Comcast or Verizon Home.
Ooma business charges a monthly fee of $20. Don’t see the reason for it since the technology is identical and the service is in the logic they sold you in the box.
I’d be looking for something better than MJ, but less expensive and obtrusive than Ooma. Not sure what else is out there.
There is a Linux Kindle App?
Love to find an option like that for this end. ATT is the provider here, and insist that you must have a standard package landline for their HS DSL to work and refuse to unbundle them. Even though I, as an Engineer can tell them exactly how to set it up, and no, DSL does not require standard PPP landline protocols to operate just the more robust HSL module swapped in for the lowspeed cheapie standard board at the central hub, they insist that I can not have just the DSL all by itself, otherwise it “just doesn’t work”. Totally false, but they are the only provider so what can you do?
I plan to get a better machine soon, maybe a desktop with a lot of RAM and a graphics accelerator. I’ll boot from disc Linux DVD’s like SuperLinux for games and Ubuntu Studio for audio-video creation.
Since I am going to live in freaktown, Texas I might as well find some weirdo’s who like similar things (minus politics).
I plan to form a club of “Running Man” fans so we can make our own “episodes” and put them on Youtube. That should be fun. Might not be able to do it often though.
I do want to locate whatever conservatives like me there are in freaktown (Armpit of Texas) and form a Freedom Club or something.
I tried Magic Jack a couple of years ago and had a whole lot of problems with it so went back to a land line for my business. Then in January I switched to Vonage. I make a lot of long distance calls. Kept my old number, performs perfectly thus far, whole lot less expensive than AT&T. One of the things I like about it is that I get an email whenever anyone leaves a message. The voice to email technology isn’t all that whippy with words but the number translation is great.
Since we’re on the phone all day long on business calls, at least I get all the messages now and no one gets a busy signal. Works great for us.
Too right, although honestly it is Kindle-for-the-PC running under wine, I believe. Uberstudent offered a downloadable live CD with Kindle bundled and Google Chrome. Played with it, installed it, removed Chrome and installed Opera and Firefox and the Kindle app is still chugging along as I type.
I see...
I have Ubuntu Linux and my wine couldn’t run Kindle
I’ll have to research a way to make it work
Well, UberStudent Linux is based upon Lubuntu so perhaps that is what is making the difference.
Oh, so someone did the work for you and put it in their distro.
Too right. Why reinvent the wheel?
good point
I want to find a desktop PC that can be maxed out on RAM and a good graphics accelerator as cheaply as possible. Something that might have been “top end” a few years ago. Not for Windows either.
I wonder where I could find that or should I just make it myself? Its been a while since I had a desktop
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