Ruth asks…

What is the best video conferencing solution?

I am looking to setup one meeting room (about 10 people max) to be able to video conference with external customers over the internet. What would be the best solution. Do I need to spend a couple thousand dollars on a VC system or should I just pay $100 bucks for a camera and get a webex account?

Paul asks…

Group video conferencing question?

Does anyone know of a good video conferencing solution that can be used in an educational environment? Where I work we need something that will sit on our servers and allow us to communicate with our schools and other districts for planning and business meetings. We would like something that will allow at least 20 members at a time and also allow document sharing and interactive features such as voting. Thanks!

Chris asks…

What’s the most stable video conferencing freeware? For mom and brothers 24/7, without using key/mouse.?

I am trying to set up a box where my mom and I and brothers can talk over the net. I want to have the machine on at mom’s 24/7 so she can always talk to us and we can always see what’s going on at her house.

Any recommendations? My brother has ichat/isight from imac in the house but I haven’t figured out how to set it open up all the video windows when it powers up. I am more familiar with windows boxes where I think I can set AIM or one of the messengers? or justin.tv to auto load and connect? I was having justin.tv drop every fwe hours tho.

Ideas? I am research linux solutions.

The end goal is just a very stable video conference box and experience for mom at home. Just leave the machine on. Nothing to press or click.
I am looking for a box where you don’t have to log on , don’t have to click. something that works without keyboard and mouse.

Charles asks…

Is there a cheap video conferencing setup that one can setup for the computer illiterate?

Hi, I am living in the USA, and my computer-illiterate parents in Singapore. I have a Mac, and would like to arrange for my parents to have an idiot-proof sort of setup where they can connect to a video conferencing setup here with a press of a button.

Now I have seen Polycom systems in action, while they work well, they are very expensive. Is there a cheaper solution these days?
Skype is a solution, but I am not sure my parents can manage it!

Sharon asks…

Switching from Windows to Linux? What is best?

I’m looking for a Linux based OS for an Asus EeePC 901/XP. I’m looking to change OS as the Netbook was shipped with 12Gb SSD, but configured with a 4Gb C partition (on which XP is installed) which is almost always at saturation which means is runs very slowly and despite removing everything that I can from that partition (manually and with ASUS utilities) I’ve had enough and I’m looking to un-partition the drive and then install a Linux OS as I’m keen to learn about this before I advocate it in my professional life. I use the ASUS for business applications when I’m travelling (and video conferencing) so I’m looking for something that would support that and can support a robust security suite. I use Symantec at the moment under XP.

I’d be interested in any suggestions you have as to Linux based OS solutions for this type of device and the typical usage described.