[Closed] Video Conferencing recommendations

We use Microsoft Teams for internal stuff and Zoom for external stuff. Don't underestimate Skype too, it's fine if you don't want to spend any money and it's just for occasional use.

Cisco WebEx here, works really well. Dunno how much it costs though.

Zoom is the easiest one to get set up quickly, and to use.  Up to 100 meeting participants, 40 minute meeting max length on the free package. Lots of options to dial in or use app/laptop etc

Have fun with the virtual backgrounds...

zoom.us

The virtual backgrounds are good but you need stable light conditions and a plain wall behind you, or a green screen.

Does anyone use green screens? I need to buy one as it looks like I'll be doing a few online webcam presentations/conferences in the next month or two

We use Skype for Business. We have one customer that insists on using Google Hangouts which seems to work fine and I assume is free.

Most Universities use Teams. It’s okay, seems to work most of the time (it’s basically Skype for business).

I use Zoom. Really rate it. Even the free version.

@elshalimo newer computers don't have the same needs to run the virtual backgrounds.  I have a bookcase behind me, and am currently using a picture of T-Rex as a virtual background without issues.  If you do pick a picture whilst on a call, be aware that it switches to it straight away, so don't chose the wrong hard drive when picking...

I'm on a zoom call right now. It works very well.

They're all pretty similar. Zoom free tier is really easy to set up but 40 minute limit on meetings.

I use Teams day to day and it's good - but then we're a company that helps other companies set it up.

A colleague uses a greenscreen in his home office - camera faces a messy bookcase so they mounted a pull-down one on the top to hide it for calls. The background blur and background replacement in many platforms does a good-enough job though.

Biggest things for video quality IMO - get the camera close to your eyeline, plenty of indirect light on your face (sit facing a window if you can) and keep the thing you're looking at as close as possible to the camera. I actually have my webcam on a mini tripod and stick it in front of the screen for video calls. If you use dual monitors then getting in in between them is a good place too. And do what you can to get a mic as close as possible to your face - headset or standalone mic. The ones built into laptops are a last resort only.

My background issue is a busy storage unit behind me full of colourful stuff, a window to my left and a requirement to have a corporate image as a virtual background when taking to clients.

Hence a green screen might be the best and most stable solution

Have a look here for some enhanced free options.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/list-of-free-software-and-services-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

I know Zoom properly supports green screen but others like Teams benefit from a contrasting colour background for blur or custom background.

For difficult lighting the cheap LED ring lights (like the makeup tutorial YouTube crowd use) are great.

I don't know the cost but use teams. I know ms bought out Skype so in theory teams is just Skype for business but it works much better one and having used both.

Thanks everyone!

Going to try teams (as I have office 365 premium) followed by zoom

However looks like teams is fubar today??

Perhaps it’s the 6 month free trial announcement

Thanks again

Yeah we use Teams for internal and external stuff. Internally mostly for IM's, calls and virtual meetings. Externally or external meetings and calls. Been working well although it went a bit FUBAR on the messaging front today, seems to be an MS thing as its affected lots of people, not just us. Oddly the video conferencing was fine for my 5 hour call with customers!

Our zoom went fubar today: it was our DR product. Which was stressful.

Too much load apparently. But that's probably understandable in the circumstances.

Skype (with no advance subscriptions etc) filled the gap admirably.

We use Google meet. Been fine today.

Used to be on WebEx a few years ago but WebEx went downhill and Google got a lot better. Lots of customers use Zoom, seems ok but more fiddly to use.

Think everything is melting today under the huge extra load. Saw an announcement from Microsoft that in Teams they’re turning down how quickly presence updates, how quickly the “other party is typing” status checks, and the maximum video resolution. Makes sense to ensure messages get there and meetings can work in the interim.

After the fun and games with Teams we’re now dabbling with Discord. It’s mainly marketed at gamers and apparently has huge bandwidth. So far, whilst not the slickest, it is very, very stable.
Might be worth trying for some.

So slightly left of centre, anyone dressing for work from the waist up and keeping an eye on their background as a result of this?  We have a large bedroom and our desk is at one end, so my screen is angled slightly upward to avoid my customers gaining a view of my bed linen.

Nearly got caught out yesterday as I went for a 30 minute ride at lunch time and came back with helmet hair.

I'm taking a view that everyone working from home is dressed down anyway.
I suspect my attire is the last thing anyone is worried about at the moment.