YOSHINATSU  Sure iChat is the best way to communicate with Mac users, but Skype is cross-platform, and is the best application of this kind for cross-platform communication.

All Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Great piece of software.  
(Version 2.8.0.722)

STEFANOAZ  I find that the V2.8 betas from Skype are stable for me, with robust A/V connections, and they have the best overall feature set for voip available for the Mac. The cross-platform screen sharing in the Mac beta is *not* available in the newest Skype Win client.   
(Version 2.8.0.438)

KOSOVAR1  All you muppets out there who keep parroting that this is FREE software and FREE p2p phone communications (i.e., if calling a computer), I say your all full of it! Those of us Mac users who subscribe to the Skype-In/Skype-Out services deserve to have feature parity and the same reliability that Windows users have! It really p's me off that Skype keeps the Mac version of the software in seemingly perpetual beta status with the inevitable stability issues and the obvious missing features that Windows users enjoy. YET WE ALL PAY THE SAME PRICE. If Mac users of Skype have to settle for crappy software while Skype for Windows gets all the attention, we Mac users should get a big discount on the cost of the service. I used to like Skype but now I'm ready to toss it. And believe me, I WILL in a heartbeat if a rival service emerges because Skype knows it's cheating us and that's ok for them.

Because of the buggy Skype software for Mac OSX, I have had to manually dial all of my saved phone numbers for the last two years. I just bet that's not an issue for Windows users!  
(Version 2.8.0.438)

SOLOSAINT  yeah, people tell me the same thing, iChat has better quality... its a typical Mac user experience... better quality, less people using it...  
(Version 2.8.0.722)

JESSEPRUDHOMME  For a FREE application, skype is great. You only need to pay out to make calls to landlines/mobile phones. I had been using version 2.7.0.330 for over a year, and had always been able to have video/audio chats without any hassle. There were some bad days where I had some miserable connectivity, but I can't even be sure if that problem wasn't due to my own internet connection.

I am now using version 2.8.0.324 beta, and will see how it goes. Keep in mind users, this IS a beta version. That means you may encounter some bugs. Basically, I'm supportive of skype developers in improving their application even further and will help them by installing the beta version on my computer. I will inform them of bugs that can be fixed - and this is how a community works. You shouldn't compare a FREE application to one that COSTS you money.

Skype has been a simple, dependable, and free way for me to keep in touch with people.  
(Version 2.8.0.324b)

HIGHERMATH  Works okay, but lacks many features and controls that are available in the Windoze version. Talking to them is worthless. Talking to my dog is more likely to get results.  
(Version 2.7.0.330)

THEBLUENOWHERE  Excellent idea, good implementation. I use this regularly to keep in touch with the far flung family and friends, most internet cafés have Skype installed so it comes in handy when travelling.

However, the mac version is woeful in video quality, features and general polished-ness (can I use that as a word?) when compared to the windows version. When talking to home in the same country on a broadband connection with 2 fast mac laptops, no firewall and no intermediate peers, the video quality was poor for both ends. But when talking from home to a friend in New Zealand who was on a mobile broadband connection, on a slightly less powerful (processor wise) windows laptop, with the standard built in camera his picture was crystal clear on our computer.  
(Version 2.8.0.659)

SMTIPS  I've been using Skype 2.7.0.330 for a few months. I used it on Windows for a couple of months and now using on Leopard.

The Mac version is reminiscent of the old ICQ in comparison between the Mac and PC versions. Extremely lacking in many features and interface perks that the Windows version has. Many features/preferences are just missing from the Mac version. Not nearly as easy to use as the Windows version is. When calling local phones within say 50 miles, I often get echo bad. It's very consistent. But when I call a lot farther away like to Canada, I get no echo and the quality is fine. I have a rock solid cable internet connection. I've complained about this the the makers, and they are clueless, they like to give generic umbrella answers and direct you to their hard to use website. And it takes them like a week to respond.

And this version that just came out is still a beta. Apparently after all this time they still can't get a new release version and are relying on users to do their beta testing for them. No thanks. And I think BETA should be prominent in the TITLE not just in parentheses below in the "bug fix" listing. Because I don't do beta testing. Beta = BUGS. If a company wants me to do beta testing for something they are ultimately making money on, even if the app itself is a free download, then they should pay me to do their job. That's my take on it.

As already said, I'm VERY unimpressed with the Mac version of Skype.   
(Version 2.8.0.438)

CYBERBRENT  Works great on a virgin 10.5.5 Leopard install. Have had it running for a couple weeks. Zero issues. Great product.  
(Version 2.7.0.330)

SYED ALI  I have used skype on 3 different machines running leopard and snow leopard. Used 2 different logitech cameras and the built in camera on Macbook, and people consistently tell me that the pic quality is inferior from the Mac client when compared to calls using the same hardware but running Windows and using the windows Skype client.

Has anyone else experienced this as well ?  
(Version 2.8.0.659)