Well, at least I’m happy I’m back to skype 3.8 again.

I agree that the new version of Skype seems to have added a few extra clicks to common tasks, and that is a move in the wrong direction.

Overall, though, I am quite pleased with the video/audio call quality and stability of the sessions. I have yet to have one conversation drop out on me. In the past, I think I recall losing only about three calls in the past year, so only time will tell.

I have been trialling the new version over the past several days now. I found your review of the new Skype 4.0 version to be a little short and limited. I have been using Skype for two years on nearly a daily basis. Chat is what i mainly use, but occasionally voice, and a small portion of voice communications are with video. I am guessing your use volume of usage might even be in the opposite order to myself, which might explain why i have a very different opinion about the new version.

In my opinion out of personal use;
> A serious amount of features and information previous available, have been taken away.
> Forced into extra clicks that did not have to be done before.
> Harder to use and read. More particularly the chat window.
I wonder if the Skype marketing department have created such a poor experience in the chat window to purposely steer the chat people away and steer people towards their commercially related offerings. Unless these people have suddenly become seriously incompetent, i have not other thought of what might be possible at the moment.

The chat window that i use, has too many things to mention about it. It might be ok for people who don’t type much, who prefer a narrower chat screen, and don’t use the chat window often. For volume chat users like myself and my friends (none of whom like it so far), it is an abysmal devolution.
My suggestion before even considering trying trying the move to the 4.0 version, is to download the 3.8 version from the skype web site while you still can. Otherwise, you might be as disappointed with what what i experienced as a very serious downgrade. If you want to download Versoin 3.8, go to the skype download page as provided in the link at the start of the blog article. Then to go to the bottom of the page and download the previous 3.8 version. The last “good one” for some of us. Others might be as pleased with some new things such as this blogger has been.

Mr Blogger, please update us with your review over time, as you begin to discover its many limitations over time. You may be ok with them, or you may not. That is, if you even use that much of it. No offense intended, but merely to point out that we as human beings can operate differently, and can have different needs, uses, ways, and perceptions of the same thing.

I’m now using it in Windows 7, and I’ve missed some conversations thanks to the new non intrusive model in Windows 7.

Skype 4 just doesn’t seem to add any value, unless I am wrong, its the same old Skype, just looks a bit differant.