get another PC or MagicJack Plus?

[Luke Drillhead]

I've used Magic Jack for a few years now. My setup has been to run it in an old desktop Windows 7 computer (originally XP) that I don't use all that much. I use a dual boot Kubuntu Linux/Windows 7 laptop for almost all my computing needs. The desktop PC has been handy both for Magic Jack and for burning DVDs of stuff I've downloaded from Youtube or wherever. I don't like tying up my laptop for that.

Now all of a sudden the desktop has croaked. It's definitely not a software problem. I tried reinstalling Windows 7 from scratch. I wiped it again and installed Kubuntu Linux. It has the same problems either way.

So now I'm faced with a choice of two things:
1. Replace the PC
2. Upgrade to Magic Jack Plus which requires no PC.

One thing I've always liked about running it through the PC was the ability to use a third-party plug-in named Magic Features. It adds some great enhancements to MJ, but the most important one to me is the ability to BLOCK calls. Somehow the Iowa Department of Revenue got into its head that I owe them money even though I've never lived in that state. They're blocked. Numerous solicitors are also blocked. If there's anyone I simply don't want to hear from, they get blocked.

So that's the advantage of replacing the PC. I'll be able to keep using Magic Features. However, it's more expensive to do it that way. I'll have to buy another computer. So my questions are as follows:

1. Does Magic Jack Plus have a feature that allows you to block specific phone numbers or wild cards? By wild cards I mean something like “877-797*” blocks all numbers that start with “877-797”.

2. If I go to Magic Jack Plus, can I go back to regular Magic Jack later? My thinking is it could be cheap to use MJ Plus for the time being and then I can go back to doing it in a computer later when I can afford to get one.

Thanks for your help.

[SteveHC]

Answers:

1. No - unless you use the MJ+ via a computer (like the original, "standard" MJ device) and run magic features software on the computer.

2. I don't fully understand your question, but the fact is that the MJ+ can be used just like the old MU device - connected to a computer. Thus there would be no advantage to switching back to an old, original standard MJ device from the newer MJ+

[SteveHC]

Answers:

1. No - unless you use the MJ+ via a computer (like the original, "standard" MJ device) and run magic features software on the computer.

2. I don't fully understand your question, but the fact is that the MJ+ can be used just like the old MU device - connected to a computer. Thus there would be no advantage to switching back to an old, original standard MJ device from the newer MJ+

[greenman]

1. Does Magic Jack Plus have a feature that allows you to block specific phone numbers or wild cards? By wild cards I mean something like “877-797*” blocks all numbers that start with “877-797”.

2. If I go to Magic Jack Plus, can I go back to regular Magic Jack later? My thinking is it could be cheap to use MJ Plus for the time being and then I can go back to doing it in a computer later when I can afford to get one.

1. No. You will not be able to use magicFeatures with the magicJack plus if it is plugged in directly to the router or enable call blocking unless you plug the mJ+ in via USB directly to a computer. You'll have to buy magicFeatures again, since it's a per-device license.

2. This question can be interpreted two ways:

• If you transfer your existing years from your old device to your new device, the old device becomes a paper weight. Your only available choice thereafter for the old device is GVJack, which again requires a USB connection via computer.
• If you transfer your existing years of contract from your old device to a new device, the new device can be used via USB at a later date with a freshly bought and installed magicFeatures license as suggested above in answer 1.