Skype for Mac

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET Staff on December 10, 2009

Skype is a great starting point for those interested in Voice Over IP (VoIP) technology offering an interface that's much like a chat program. To make calls, you'll need to create a contact list of friends and family who also have Skype. To make calls to regular handset or mobile phones, you'll have to sign up with the Skype service. Possibly the best feature of Skype is that you'll be able to make free computer-to-computer calls anywhere around the world as long as both parties have Skype installed. This includes both audio and video calls.

In the past we liked the intuitive chat-like interface of older versions of Skype and were surprised at the excellent sound quality, even using regular desktop speakers. But the latest version has added a number of interface problems that make the program much harder to use on the Mac. This update adds some enhancements and audio improvements, but you may want to stick with the old version until Skype can iron out the bugs.

Publisher's Description

From Skype:

Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to anyone else on Skype, anywhere in the world. And even though the calls are free, they are really excellent quality. If you and your friends, family or business contacts are using webcams, you can also make free video calls. You can even call landlines and mobile phones at really cheap per minute rates.

What's new in this version: Fixed issues with login window for some users.

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All User Reviews

Results 1-10 of 301

  • 4.0 stars

    "5.7.60.1037 At last, manual volume control option"

    May 4, 2012  |   By whythebarriers

    Version: Skype 5.7.60.1037

    Pros

    Skype responded to feedback from broadcasters and narrators, like myself, whose pro work was disrupted by Skype taking command of our analogue recording gain controls - and then leaving them set any old place upon exit. There's an option now of auto gain control or manual. Bravo Skype.

    Cons

    From the start, interfaces have never been world class. Buttons in corners, no feeling of logical flow. Latest (if that's 5.7.60.1037) seems oddly attenuated when you start it up on a Mac: you have to fossick around to get much to appear. Wish they'd poach an interface designer from Apple!

    Summary

    Incredibly useful, socially and for business, and the audio gets better and better. Try the screen sharing feature - available only with video running and again the button is obscure. But worth finding.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "The best IM"

    April 19, 2012  |   By EricCrr

    Version: Skype 5.7.60.1037

    Pros

    Free calls

    Cons

    The Windows version is more user friendly

    Summary

    Must have app for everyone.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "using since dayOne, the best!"

    April 5, 2012  |   By zee10

    Version: Skype 5.6.0.203

    Pros

    excellent, BUT, there is no really any improvements in terms of features.

    Cons

    Sure, mikrozoft paid big bucks, and the on-going development is non-existent.
    what they do is shuffle all the features, forth and back, to make look like "new"

    Summary

    still works great, until somebody comes with something better, and that will be the end of Skype and mikrozoft. and I have a feeling it's coming...

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Incompetent release"

    March 28, 2012  |   By unfunfionn

    Version: Skype 5.6.0.143

    Pros

    The basic functionality still works.

    Cons

    There are so many problems with this release and it's actually quite shocking. Did anybody at Skype even test this once? The two big ones:

    1. Everytime I sign into Skype, I get logged out of Facebook in Safari. Every single time, on two different Macs. As somebody who puts his Mac in sleep mode regularly at work, this is a major inconvenience.

    2. Although it offers full-screen mode now, a lot of functions don't work in full-screen. And I mean basic functions. Try to access Preferences, and Skype exits full screen. Select a contact's profile picture to see their profile, and Skype exits full screen. Is it limited to these two instances? Absolutely not.

    3. When in full-screen mode, I add a tag to a new contact and the whole screen instantly goes grey a la the mission control background pattern. I have to swipe to another app, and then click the Skype icon to even see the app again.

    Summary

    Why was this even released? It seems like it was in Beta for a long time beforehand too. This is barely Alpha quality.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "The best IM"

    March 22, 2012  |   By DaveGuyy

    Version: Skype 5.6.0.143

    Pros

    It's free, it's powerful

    Cons

    I don't know

    Summary

    I want to thanks developers for an app, which I use every day.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Please call me (on Skype 2.8)"

    March 8, 2012  |   By GianMarco Tavazzani

    Version: Skype 5.6.0.143

    Pros

    A glorious past

    Cons

    an astonishing default by the day they wanted to sell it to that ridicolous company which pretends to let believe to be able to write software but can only copy, buy, destroy make it worst!

    Summary

    As soon as Skype will have back his humble elegance, not that good as Adium, which is also less essential than Fire...
    A step back (and this is the case!) can't deserve more than half a star

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Takes up far too much screen space"

    March 7, 2012  |   By Skywoolf

    Version: Skype 5.6.0.143

    Pros

    Seems to work like the older version

    Cons

    Interface is huge and ugly wasted loads of screen space and can't be reduced much.

    Summary

    I deleted it almost immediately and used Time Machine to put back the older version. If they can't make it less obtrusive I will stop using it if/when the old one no longer works.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Great software"

    March 4, 2012  |   By applecross

    Version: Skype 5.5.0.2340

    Pros

    Great software

    Cons

    Great software

    Summary

    Great software

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Bring back 2.8"

    March 1, 2012  |   By nategold

    Version: Skype 5.5.0.2340

    Pros

    Works OK but has gone downhill

    Cons

    Lacks nice window interface of 2.8. Chats there popped up in a new window, now are barely noticeable. In 2.8 on a group audio call you could see who was getting feedback or whose dog was barking. Now there is no clue. Takes up too much screen space. And on and on.

    I have never seen a piece of software go downhill so badly as Skype.

    Summary

    Bring back all the features of 2.8

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Poor UI ruins a useful application"

    February 19, 2012  |   By matthoff

    Version: Skype 5.5.0.2340

    Pros

    Great audio and video chat support

    Cons

    An otherwise wonderful application ruined by a poor UI

    Summary

    The user interface implemented in version 5.5 is confusing and a horrible waste of screen space (especially on laptops). There is no support for minimizing the UI. This means that the UI takes up at least 1/6 of the screen on a MacBook Pro.

    There isn't a way to configure or customize the UI. The Multi-column interface offers poor controls for changing column widths and turning on and off columns.

    Version 2.8 of Skype is still available and is compatible with those running 5.5.X on the Mac and other platforms. Use 2.8, Don't bother downloading 5.5.

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Results 1-10 of 301

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