headset/mike with netbook and Magic Jack

[Willum]

My Wife travels to Europe and uses her Magic Jack, laptop and the Hotel cradled phones to call back to the US.

Just bought her an Asus Netbook and the MJ works great with it - but my question is..... will a headset w/mike, plugged into the Netbook (wired) work and allow her to use the Netbook in other "hotspots" (when the Hotel phones aren't available - airports, for instance)

and, if so, are there any recommendations and to make and model #s (she doesn't really care for the "cover the ear and over the head" headsets)

would this set-up require a two plug set-up (audio & voice) ?

thank you

[bitstopjoe]

My Wife travels to Europe and uses her Magic Jack, laptop and the Hotel cradled phones to call back to the US.

Just bought her an Asus Netbook and the MJ works great with it - but my question is..... will a headset w/mike, plugged into the Netbook (wired) work and allow her to use the Netbook in other "hotspots" (when the Hotel phones aren't available - airports, for instance)

and, if so, are there any recommendations and to make and model #s (she doesn't really care for the "cover the ear and over the head" headsets)

would this set-up require a two plug set-up (audio & voice) ?

thank you

My buddy went to Switzerland last year and used his netbook and MJ with a headset ( sorry I do not know what model, but it went on one ear and had the mic ( NOT mike by the way, which is someone's name) out in front of his face, and it worked PERFECTLY. Had I not known where he was I would have thought I called him at home 15 miles from me. NOW, if the hotel has crappy wireless you will get crappy VOIP. Plus don't forget the more people using a wireless connection at the hotel, the less bandwith you will have to use for VOIP. I.E. crappy MJ performance ( choppy sound, echo, delay, etc....)

[Willum]

My Wife travels to Europe and uses her Magic Jack, laptop and the Hotel cradled phones to call back to the US.

Just bought her an Asus Netbook and the MJ works great with it - but my question is..... will a headset w/mike, plugged into the Netbook (wired) work and allow her to use the Netbook in other "hotspots" (when the Hotel phones aren't available - airports, for instance)

and, if so, are there any recommendations and to make and model #s (she doesn't really care for the "cover the ear and over the head" headsets)

would this set-up require a two plug set-up (audio & voice) ?

thank you

My buddy went to Switzerland last year and used his netbook and MJ with a headset ( sorry I do not know what model, but it went on one ear and had the mic ( NOT mike by the way, which is someone's name) out in front of his face, and it worked PERFECTLY. Had I not known where he was I would have thought I called him at home 15 miles from me. NOW, if the hotel has crappy wireless you will get crappy VOIP. Plus don't forget the more people using a wireless connection at the hotel, the less bandwith you will have to use for VOIP. I.E. crappy MJ performance ( choppy sound, echo, delay, etc....)

thanks for the info - she's leaving this evening so I'm sending her out with a MIKE and a headset - just to have her play-around with it on this trip

by the way, I spent 9 years in the military and then 31 years of commercial flying - 40 years of using and saying MIKE.. please read this definition :

"mike1    /maɪk/ Show Spelled
[mahyk] Show IPA
noun, verb, miked, mik·ing.
–noun
1. Also, mic. Informal . a microphone.
–verb (used with object)
2. Informal . to supply or amplify with one or more microphones; attach a microphone to: to mike a singer.
–verb (used without object)
3. Informal . to use or position a microphone: to mike properly when recording a singer."

[bitstopjoe]

When it comes to PC's ( NOT planes) when I got my first home computer in 1981 and online ( NOT the net but BBS's) in 1983, I have always seen it SPELLED mic, yet phonically it is pronounced mike ( like the name).
But hey Tomato, Tomato. As long as she doesnt have some guy named Mike near her lips, doesn't matter

[Willum]

just proves we're never too old to learn something new..(thanks again)

[bitstopjoe]

just proves we're never too old to learn something new..(thanks again)

HEY who are you calling old, Mike

Let me know how she makes out with the netbook. IF she has problems with the wireless at the hotel, sometimes they will let you connect wired if you ask. Of course bandwith still comes into play reguardless.

[Diggs]

One quick mention -

Some older first generation netbooks came with WinCE (or a Linux distro) instead of WinXP. Magic Jack will not run on WinCE (and of course will not run on Linux natively either).

Just sayin........

[bitstopjoe]

One quick mention -

Some older first generation netbooks came with WinCE (or a Linux distro) instead of WinXP. Magic Jack will not run on WinCE (and of course will not run on Linux natively either).

Just sayin........

Good point............
But MJ does work with MicroXp. I have it installed on a backup PC just in case with USB 1.1 and MJ runs A O.K.

[Willum]

One quick mention -

Some older first generation netbooks came with WinCE (or a Linux distro) instead of WinXP. Magic Jack will not run on WinCE (and of course will not run on Linux natively either).

Just sayin........

this Asus runs XP, but thanks

[bitstopjoe]

Then you should be good to go...

[Bill Smith]

I bought a headset/mike at the DollarTree for $1 (you were expecting $2?) And wonder of wonders, it works just fine with my netbook. Can't get much less than that.

[Willum]

I bought a headset/mike at the DollarTree for $1 (you were expecting $2?) And wonder of wonders, it works just fine with my netbook. Can't get much less than that.

thanks - and you use it in conjunction with Magic Jack ?

[Bill Smith]

Yes, the $1 unit works fine with my MJ and netbook. It is typically located in the area with the headphones, flashlights, and USB cables.

Note: not all DollarTree stores have this item.

[Willum]

thank you, for the info

[Willum]

hmmmmm - I've tried a headset and 3 different mikes and I'm unable to communicate

can't hear a connected call nor am I able to get sound out on a call

am I doing something wrong or is there some "setting" on the netbook that I haven't thrown ?

help appreciated (as my Wife came home yesterday but goes out again this afternoon - she's able to use the MJ but only with a cradled phone in her hotel rooms

thanks

[Diggs]

I'm assuming you have clicked on MJ's "Menu" and checked "Switch to headset"?

(Just checking for the obvious.)

[Willum]

I'm assuming you have clicked on MJ's "Menu" and checked "Switch to headset"?

(Just checking for the obvious.)

chuckle chuckle - didn't someone once say something like : "never assume.."

no, I hadn't "switched to headset" - this is the 1st time I've done anything with the MJ.. Thanks, the headset in now working and there's no requirement to have a mike connected

my question now is - why would anything (mike or headset) have to be connected to the netbook ? I've just seen that a mike isn't necessary and the netbook, of course, has it's own speaker - will not the call be able to use the netbook's speaker ?

[Diggs]

My netbook doesn't have a built in mic although yours may. I would think the speakers of the netbook itself could be used and that some trial and error would allow that. But, then you get into the issue of feedback, ringingness (if that is even a word), echoing, etc. Best not to use speakers with an open mic.

[Willum]

My netbook doesn't have a built in mic although yours may. I would think the speakers of the netbook itself could be used and that some trial and error would allow that. But, then you get into the issue of feedback, ringingness (if that is even a word), echoing, etc. Best not to use speakers with an open mic.

all this is starting to confuse - I tried one of our other laptops and it doesn't seem to have a built-in mike (as does this little netbook that we just purchased)

the only headset that I've got laying around is one that covers the ears and I'm thinking my Wife isn't gonna want to use that - she'd rather hook-up to the Hotel's room phone - go figure..

guess I'll just look for a cheapie, plug into the ear headset (which would be easy to pack in her luggage) and let it go at that

thanks for the help and the tip about "switching to headset"

[Diggs]

Even Walmart has cheap headsets that work well. I can understand her wanting to use a conventional phone but once she gets used to the freedom of a headset it might surprise her. Usually when I am on the phone with the laptop I also want my calendar, emails, etc. handy. The headset makes having both hands free for other things like this ideal. (The netbook may be a little short on horsepower to multi-task using MagicJack though.)

[Willum]

thanks again - I can lead a horse to water, but....

[Darkman90808]

once she gets used to the freedom of a headset it might surprise her.

Thought I would jump into the fray. Another big advantage to using a headset is it may save $$$ from having to go to the chiropractor. Over the years, I have developed a nasty cramp in my left shoulder from cocking my head to talk on the phone.

I now use a headset for almost every phone conversation to keep from aggravating the problem. Of course, since I'm on the computer most of the time it has the added benefit of freeing up my hands, as mentioned previously.

[bitstopjoe]

once she gets used to the freedom of a headset it might surprise her.

Thought I would jump into the fray. Another big advantage to using a headset is it may save $$$ from having to go to the chiropractor. Over the years, I have developed a nasty cramp in my left shoulder from cocking my head to talk on the phone.

I now use a headset for almost every phone conversation to keep from aggravating the problem. Of course, since I'm on the computer most of the time it has the added benefit of freeing up my hands, as mentioned previously.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm on the computer all the time and need your hands............ NOPE I am not touching that one

[Diggs]

NOPE I am not touching that one

I wasn't going to touch the part about calling his better half a hors.......

(Never mind.)