# Help with Videoconferencing/Skype

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 25, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998 "2014-04-25T23:07:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998/1 "2014-04-25T23:07:27Z")

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I have a potential client I may be starting a project for, that’s the good news.  
The bad news is that since it’s a small company they use Skype for video conferencing and they’d like to do a live call with me and the team.

I have a desktop and no webcam or microphone, so my question is what should I buy to make this happen?  
Will I look like a dork if I use a headset? What are the alternatives? Are webcams sold separately or is there some all in one solution I should look at?

I’d like to keep the cost to a minimum since if I don’t end up getting the contract I’ll have spent the money on something I’m not likely to use again.

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998/2 "2014-04-25T23:37:49Z")

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Webcams have built in microphones. I like LG as a brand.

Look on eBay for a good deal on one…I suspect a lot of people got rid of then when they got laptops and iPads.

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998/3 "2014-04-25T23:44:49Z")

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So then I just need speakers?  
Will feedback be a problem? Like, how does the microphone tell the difference between me talking and the speakers?

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998/4 "2014-04-26T02:23:55Z")

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Yes sorry, you will need speakers. These can also be gotten on eBay.

The webcam will figure out how not to make feedback.

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-videoconferencing-skype/686998/5 "2014-04-26T02:25:13Z")

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Thanks!