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Original poster

Zoom

20 replies

Mollypolly2610 · 05/04/2020 21:29

I’m old and bored and have family all over the place.

Can someone please explain zoom to me. I know my youngest daughter uses it for working from home.

Can I download it and use it to contact people or is it a business thing?

God I even hate FaceTime because I see my face on it and cringe!

OP posts:
WaterIsWide · 05/04/2020 21:30

Watching with interest......

BlackandWhiteCat0 · 05/04/2020 21:37

To be honest, I’d say it’s more of a business thing and you’d better off with video calling via FaceTime/messenger/WhatsApp for personal calls.
Also Zoom is struggling with the load just now as so many are using it

Mymymycorona · 05/04/2020 21:39

You can download it. I have it for work, but I've taken part in family and friends zoom meetings and quizzes. If you just download the free one your call cuts out after 40 mins. I think it's 12quid a month if you want to stay on unlimited.
I like zoom. You can see everyone else in the chat, and it works well.

Redpriestandmozart · 05/04/2020 21:43

I use Jitsi seems to do the job well, I use Zoom for business meetings but prefer Jitsi for family and friends.

fruitpastille · 05/04/2020 21:47

I was on it for 3 hours with 2 friends the other night with the free version. It's easy. Just download (larger screen is better so I used laptop) and use email addresses for contacts. Or my gym gives a meeting code to put in for streamed classes.

SudokuQueen · 05/04/2020 21:52

Be careful with it. Make sure you're using a code/password for people to access your calls. Others aren't and anyone can access their calls.

xsquared · 05/04/2020 21:57

Has anyone managed to get their 40 minute limit for more than 2 people lifted on their free account after submitting a request?

I know that some people have managed to stay on longer than 40 minutes without doing anything and I've submitted a request and haven't heard anything back yet.

247SylviaPlath · 05/04/2020 21:59

Try houseparty app - similar thing

Original poster
Mollypolly2610 · 05/04/2020 22:10

Thanks so much!!

OP posts:
springydaff · 05/04/2020 22:10

If you're just talking to one person, WhatsApp is best.

Download the WhatsApp App - easy and free. You can choose talk or video.

Roussette · 05/04/2020 22:18

Just done a 2 hour quiz with different members of my family scattered over 7 locations. It was great fun.

I use it on a laptop, downloaded the app, and join a meeting after being given a code to enter. I haven't hosted anything.

It does cut out after 40 minutes if you are hosting and haven't paid but that's no problem, you just go back in to the quiz/meeting.

It was great to see all my family scattered all over the country.

Whatsapp is great for a video call up to 4 people. But Zoom is for more and DD who wrote the quiz, had brilliant graphics for some of the questions!

xsquared · 05/04/2020 23:31

Thanks Rousette. I will be hosting a quiz myself this week and I was thinking of having intervals after so many rounds.

doodleygirl · 05/04/2020 23:35

We had a family quiz this evening via zoom, very easy to use

Ginfordinner · 05/04/2020 23:41

What has happened to Skype these days?

At work we use Teams, but I use Zoom for pilates classes.

DD is talking to several of her university friends right now, but I'm not sure what platform she is using.

OhioOhioOhio · 05/04/2020 23:41

I'm the same. I hate all the face time shit

ErrolTheDragon · 05/04/2020 23:44

DH is doing some discussion groups with other people - he refuses to use zoom because he listens to lots of security podcast type of things and apparently it's got some quite bad problems - malware type of stuff. They tried Skype but have now gone for Google Hangout, which is pretty easy to use.

Curious about people using WhatsApp - I thought that was just on phones, not pcs/tablets? So not enough screen if you're trying to use video with more than one person.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/04/2020 23:46

What has happened to Skype these days?

I use Skype all the time for work, but it's Skype for business.

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 05/04/2020 23:51

I did a WhatsApp video call with my family via my mobile phone today, it was four of us. I had never used it for video conferencing before and really liked it, very easy to use, did not require anyone to download another app and register etc. We were able to see all four on the screen. For quizzes and bigger participation I agree to use zoom. House party is a fun video calling app that includes little games as well, my ten year old uses it a lot when chatting with his friends.

JasperRising · 05/04/2020 23:52

I've used zoom a bit when other people are hosting but a bit wary over its security. Have also used WebEx which is very similar to Zoom - another business service but it does have a free service which has been extended in terms of what it offers.

But to be honest, for quick and easy I've used Facebook messenger (for multi person calls and you can see them all on the screen) and WhatsApp (just for two people but I think you can do more) because they are quick and easy if you already have them set up.

Ginfordinner · 05/04/2020 23:57

Errol you can set WhatsApp for web on a laptop. You need your phone for the QR code to set it up. Then you can just use a laptop afterwards.

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