In more than 20 years of Apple experience I don't think I have witnessed a piece of software become more disappointing than Skype.
The question becomes exactly what piece of consumer software alternative is there, though? Yahoo Messenger support died on the Mac LONG ago. FaceTime is fine for Mac to Mac and iOS to Mac, but has no use for communicating video calls to Windows or Linux users. The ability to share screens is very valuable. Messages on Mac relies on OTHER services to function and so it and FaceTime are not really a replacement for something like Skype.
I'm sure there are some other 3rd party apps out there, but what kind of market saturation is there and do they have even remotely good Mac support? Sadly, this is why Skype is still important.
Why hasn't Apple jumped in and offered their own cross-platform alternative? They just dumped Safari support for Windows. It seems we like to complain about Microsoft not supporting Macs, but I don't see Apple stepping up any longer on their end and making Windows compatible applications (other than iTunes which is too much $$$ to ignore).
Skype actually works well here on my Mac Mini EXCEPT that when I do a 720p video call with my new Logitech B910 webcam, the CPU usage jumps to 100% while video is active (it starts in a lower resolution that uses 30% but as soon as it detects sufficient bandwidth, it goes to 720p automatically and pegs the CPU and starts heating up the computer. Facetime, by comparison uses 25% CPU for the same relative call to another Mac. But again, it seems I'm limited to Macs and iOS devices.
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Using Skype isn't a good idea, let alone paying for it...
There are so many alternatives that are so much better. Google Plus is great
Google Plus is at least as invasive as Facebook and I for one want no part of it. I don't want to use my real name across the Internet and the last time I checked Google Plus REQUIRES you to do just that and so all your restaurant reviews, etc. will have your name attached to it and potentially create real problems with irate businesses, etc. All I want is a private video chat (phone-like) function, not a social network alternative to Facebook (which I do NOT subscribe to; one might as well just paint a bulls-eye on their identity and beg hackers to steal it as they seem to get hacked regularly).
and so is AIM/.Mac/MobileMe.
MobileMe is GONE. Facetime doesn't work with Windows machines anyway. I don't know ANYONE who is still using AIM and I don't believe video chatting is supported on it with Macs anyway.
They're all free. Meanwhile, Skype is mediocre and paid. Of course, I looked Skype up on Wikipedia at some point and noticed that Microsoft is running it. That explains a lot.
I don't pay a DIME to use Skype. WTF are you talking about? They charge for extra features. I can make audio and video calls all day long with Mac and Windows users for FREE in addition to messaging plus there's screen sharing.