UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Firstly, apologies Simon if this is in the wrong place or not a suitable subject - please feel free to move/delete as appropriate.

How do people feel about the idea of a SKYPE group discussion every now and again?

SKYPE - is a free internet voice service that requires speakers and a mic (or headset or whatever.)
It is free to install and free to use.
It is not a BT £5/minute conference call and so can be a bit not perfect sometimes.
Once a group exists anyone can call the group and start a conversation going - this means no one has to become the "owner" of the task and different faces can appear whenever they want to join in.
I THINK it is limited to about 10 people per conference to get decent telephony - larger groups can work but the audio quality goes down hill.

- I was thinking about a regular weekly call (as an example Wednesday Night 19:00-20:00)
- someone hits the "CALL GOODREADS" button and everyone in the Skype Goodreads group's skype account rings.
- If you are online and want to join, you answer and the session runs until you switch off.

I would suggest creating a Goodreads Only Skype account identity for anyone a bit nervous about the stalking wombats that lurk.

I'll try and clue myself up on the technology as much as possible (but am sure there are folk who know 10,000 more about it than me already.) to help out and iron out starting bugs.

So - There is the outline - what thoughts? Who would like to try it? Who thinks it's crazy? All input would be useful. :)

Cheers, CW

I think it will be a hoot. Count me in. We could have a practice run to see how it works.

PS I have only deleted one post ever and that was because it had a link to a web site that was harvesting member information while pretending to be a link to amazon. I am not a dictator honest!

Benign dictatorship still seems the best possible society - but I'm strange :)

Just some notes:

1 - To Get SKYPE go to www.skype.com and it will install for you. Takes about 30 seconds.

2 - To get a SKYPE account or create a private account just for these discussions - go to Create Account and bung in an email address, then pick a Skype User Name. I've chosen (surprise) the imaginative CWGoodread

3 - You are now live.

It will take a bit of posting on this web at first I guess to get other peoples SKYPE User Names to add, but feel free to call CWGoodread to meet the wombat :)

I already have a skye account so this should be great!

I have a skype account too so would be interested. But it depends on the time and day as Wednesdays will be out once September starts.

I'll think about it, but I will probably turn out to be too shy!

Chookgate..... Shy......

Has someone kidnapped the real Chookgate and replaced her with an alien from planet Romance?

I too have "ideas" about it.
The joy of Amazon Forum / Goodreads is that we are what we type and all are free to imagine the person behind the words ... rather like books.
Going "aural" could lessen the experience - or add to it. I'm happy/keen to try it then watch it blossom or burn.
And Wednesdays is terrible for me too :)

Simon, I hope that Dotty will be joining in :)

Dotty will not be joining in because she can't wear one of those headphone/mic sets properly what with having no ears and being a cat :)

You are putting me off now Cw, I hate the sound of my own voice but I don't mind inflicting people at work with it and they are paid to listen!

Never fear brave knight - will be just like those strange meetings in the little room at the back of the pub reserved for mobsters and plotting women's institute apparatchiks.

We will take to it either like ducks or Kindles to water

Dotty can still wave a paw on the cam and say meow !

Might be able to do if in the evening (depending on availability), but that's if you don't mind me staying in my PJs :)

Nooo....My Kindle is going nowhere near water!

Sorry coulden't resist.
I don't have Skype so I'm out. Sounds like fun though

Edit for spelling

I have Skype & use it a lot to talk to my friend in Greece & my Cousin in the cotswolds, its great! I would love to join in a group phone call, not sure if I would be keen on a video call though, would frighten you all away!!
If you do go ahead I hope you will put instructions on how to make a group call as I have only called one to one before & am sure to get it wrong.
Really does sound like a great idea!

Pat wrote: "Sorry coulden't resist.
I don't have Skype so I'm out. Sounds like fun though

Edit for spelling"

Skype is free to download & even I did it on my own & that means that anyone can do it, give it a go Pat, a group chat sounds like a lot of fun.

I think it should be recorded and offered as a free download to those who still have crystal radios -
`The Kindle skype Goon show 2011`

:0)

Think its a great idea unfortunately having tried skype on numerous occasions it doesn't work well in my area. I can't get broadband on my phone line so I have a dongle which is great for the things I use the internet for but absolutely rubbish for skype. I would really have liked to join in.I hope it works well for you all and maybe one day soon "they'll" get round to upgrading or whatever it is they do to my phone line.

Maybe we could alternate and use chat rooms as well :)

I've never used a chat room. Willing to give it ago though.

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "Chookgate..... Shy......

Has someone kidnapped the real Chookgate and replaced her with an alien from planet Romance?"
People always express surprise when I say I'm shy, but really, I am. I'm just the loud sort of shy person.

Very recently someone came up with a classic line :
I am shy but I over conpensate.

this sounds like a really good idea but i think i would be too shy too, plus getting a night to suit most people would be a nightmare!!!

I might be willing to be persuaded though...

May I proffer an alternative to Skype. Teamspeak and Ventrilo are two alternative systems that are very good and are used by large groups of gamers.

Although it does not give video (Phew there) it is less bandwidth hungry than Skype and allows large numbers of users to participate in conversations. I've personally been on a Ventrillo chat with 40 other users when we were planning a battle (Yes, I'm a gamer as well as a reader).

The Client is free and there are a number of free Ventrilo servers available to host the calls across the internet.

I'm happy to help if required.

G

What games do you play Geoff? I am thinking of wasting even more of my life on computers?

@Geoff: Was Nick S. talking about you in Spine Slaughter?

I must admit I thought that Vent servers normally cost money - shows how much I know :)
The Press To Talk clipping used to be painful, and open mic used to be cacophony.
Finding the rooms, remembering passwords always confused me.
Assuming those points are ancient history I have no problems since all I was looking to achieve was a virtual pint and a natter to allow lively debate rather than the (necessarily) staccato exchange of posting ;)

@Simon: I've just completed Mass Effect and will probably move to Mass Effect 2. The story for this is very deep indeed, especially if you are a sci-fi lover like me. If I'd been reading a book version of it I'd have given it 5 stars.

One of the best games I've played for a long time is Portal. It's all about logic puzzles and physics, which is wonderful, but more importantly there is the machine interface, GLaDos, who has to be the most witty and amusing I've heard in any game. It's worth playing just for that.

Here are some GLaDos quotes:

"Spectacular. You appear to understand how a portal affects forward momentum, or to be more precise, how it does not. Momentum, a function of mass and velocity, is conserved between portals. In layman's terms: speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out."

"The Enrichment Center reminds you that the Companion Cube cannot speak. In the event that the Companion Cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice."

"That thing you burned up isn't important to me. It's the fluid catalytic cracking unit. It made shoes for orphans. Nice job breaking it, hero."

That's why I love Portal.

@Cw. Has Mr Tiggiwinkle been talking about me again? Damn. I've downloaded all his books, but people keep recommending group books to read. No names mentioned. *glare*.

You can keep Ventrilo very basic at the server end so you can keep just the one room and there is a free service here: http://freeventriloserver.net/. Whilst I've found that Skype is good for 3-4 people, it starts to lag horribly by the time you get to 10 or so, and I'll bet there are more than 10 chatterboxes here ;-).

I have been thinking about portal. Is that portal 2? Xbox?

Ahhh, revenge for handbag talk!

I believe a ding upside the ear with a brick in a bag is a very good 'punishment' for people who get too geeky!

I know, Simon - I'm harsh!

I've completed Portal for the PC (It's ridiculously cheap on Steam) and am about to start Portal 2. I'd recommend starting at the first one if only for the fact that it is so enjoyable. *ding*

Thank you Ingnite, may I have another? *ding*

The first one not hard enough?

May I suggest that we start with Skype and see how popular it is? If we are finding that there is a need for more people to access it at the same time, I would be willing to set up a Ventrilo server, here at Geek Acres.

Before I can proceed with a server, I'll need to get my Internet sorted out (it keeps falling over) and I'm awaiting an upgrade to fibre which improve the upline speed.

*ding*, *ding* It appears my postillion is full of eels. No standing at the back.

Geoff (G. Robbins) wrote: "@Simon: I've just completed Mass Effect and will probably move to Mass Effect 2. The story for this is very deep indeed, especially if you are a sci-fi lover like me. If I'd been reading a book v..."

Hahahahaha You're selling me on trying out Portal... :D

I agree about Skype. Let's not run before we can walk. I can geek talk with Geoff later if we get the support.

I like the sound of portal!

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "I agree about Skype. Let's not run before we can walk. I can geek talk with Geoff later if we get the support.

I like the sound of portal!"

Don't tell Ingnite Simon, as I'm beginning to suffer from concussion. I think she rather likes wielding that brick.

I'd rather not if I don't have to (it's not big and it's not clever...!)

It's been about 4 or 5 years since I last used Skype. If I recall correctly at that time it was limited to the number of people in group chats (I think maybe no more than 4 people?). It's probably improved though a lot since then.

I can also vouch for Ventrilo. I use it often when playing World of Warcraft (I am one of those apparently mythical creatures called "girl-gamers").

I am liking the sound of Portal. Might have to give it a go sometime.

I think version 1 of Portal is about £6 when purchased off Steam. It's a great way into the game, or if you are really convinced you want it there is a pack with both 1 and 2.

Aren't you what is called a 'gamer chick' Maureen? That's what my daughter calls herself anyway.

If you happen to meet a druid called CJD who is looking a little lost but is happily herbing then that is deffo not me. Nope. No sir!

(Have ordered the 2 pack - was sold by the voice)

Cw wrote: "If you happen to meet a druid called CJD who is looking a little lost but is happily herbing then that is deffo not me. Nope. No sir!

(Have ordered the 2 pack - was sold by the voice)"

Yup, the voice art is done by an opera singer. When you get to the end of the game you'll get a demonstration of that voice.

Lol yes Geoff. Although apparently we don't exist ;-)

G.I.R.L gamer = guy in real life.

Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "I agree about Skype. Let's not run before we can walk. I can geek talk with Geoff later if we get the support.

I like the sound of portal!"

I'm so ungeek that I thought you were all talking about the book! Portal!

:0)

Funny you should say that Karen, I was so geek I thought everyone was talking about the game when they said they had finished Portal. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a book!

I have no idea what is going on in here, clearly i don't belong in this thread, i followed up until you stopped talking about skype

I was lost at Skype, Jud. The laptop Simon told me to get is preloaded with it, it seems. I'll have to study up on it.

I'm currently planning on sticking with Skype since it is the most "bog standard" and easy system easily available.

Am trying to work out an evening for a "Trial Run" where the discussions will mainly be about rhubarb, crumbles, potato bread, Agra and possibly go off topic and talk about books :)

Ah, the protocol for making calls to people seems to be to learn their Skype name / send a request to be allowed to contact them / make the call.

Not sure if you need to be online to receive the friend invite, so CWGoodread will be logged on tonight (thursday 25th) just to see what happens. :)

Well, if we're going to go all off topic like that, count me out!

I'll be able to try out Skyping in a couple of weeks, CW. I think it may be a larf.

Cw wrote: "Ah, the protocol for making calls to people seems to be to learn their Skype name / send a request to be allowed to contact them / make the call.

Not sure if you need to be online to receive the f..."

I am also online and have sent you a request (well I think I have..) Just set up a special alternative Skype id so it might not work straight away.

So I'll need a Skype ID, will I?
I'm open to suggestions!

We should come up with something clever for Simon, too!