 Review by supergirl 
UPDATED: 189 days ago
member for 1.8 years, 760 visits, last login: 44 days ago
 Pensacola,Escambia,FL
 Contract price not specified.
 "I got it for nothing"
 "Call quality sucks, busy signals, website is an infomercial"
 "If you get it for nothing, try it but don't expect"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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A friend got it for almost nothing. Like $20 at some promotion. She hated it. Both of us used a laptop since our desktops have expensive audio cards. She used a Sony Vaio and I have a HP (loaded).
I said I'd try and got the same issues: poor sound (a $1500 HP laptop (XP Pro) or a Sony Vaio laptop ($1800--XP Pro) so not the laptops--both of us listen to music, watch movies, etc.), echos (lot of echoes--sounded like in a tunnel), busy signals (all circuits busy), and both USB's didn't like it. Maybe, "I'm a Ferrari. I don't like Ford parts." kinda thing.
Software wasn't much. I wouldn't load it on an expensive desktop with expensive audio cards since MagicJack likes to "takeover".
Pretty much for techies.
Live chat exists only in some weird part of cyberspace for tech. She tried to call, I didn't. Fix the website infomericial PUhleezeee! No, we didn't go to the magic forum of DSLreports.com. It shouldn't require astrophysics to do simple things.
It was a toy. Not a good one. Perhaps "beta" is not a good idea.
Called ID was funny. I called from my cell to it on her laptop. It wasn't my number. Again, it is a toy for some tech to make great, if possible. So, we will give it someone else who is geekish and let them figure it out. Like I said, we weren't trying for an uplink to the space shuttle so why is it sooo complicated.
Same problem with all Net based VOIP: 1 mb up should be fine, more than fine if 256k users make it work sometimes. She even hooked it up to a T3 connection at work. If it doesn't work there, it ain't working anywhere. Yes, she has full use of the T3. No blocks. I have 15/1 HSI.
It's not a Vonage killer (even though I hate them) but TMobile's new @Home might make MagicJack's future in serious doubt unless they just make it a irritating toy.
No, you're not getting her phone number. The MJ is back in its box with the rest of her useless tech junk. Both of us with stick with cell and home phones. I just tried to see if it was as great as this site claimed it was. And, it wasn't like I was paying for it. My USB is more important than the MJ since it usually is for a external HD. I have 4 USBs on the laptop but only like to use one of them. Sorry, one is for a mouse too.
Followup comments:  dwbjr
join:2008-04-22
Littleton, CO
|  Magic Jack is a "10 out of 10" Value
| |
| dwbjr
join:2008-04-22
Littleton, CO
|  Just hooked up magic jack on my desktop (HP Media/Vista 64/dwbjr 6/768) - most calls are clear - some are weak, but so far ALL CALLS WORK! There was nothing to do but plug it in, so the problem is not with the product. There are several other factors beyond magic jack's control that can get in the way - poor routers, poor ISP's, system configurations that are not compatible, etc. But for me, this is money well spent - it's costing me a total of $19.99 PER YEAR for all of my domestic local and long distance calling. I am happy to put up with a few bad calls every now and then, in fact, when I think about it, I've had plenty of dropped calls and poor quality connections with all carriers (AT&T, VERIZON, QWEST, CHARTER, T-Mobil). Is anyone paying less for your unlimited local and long distance calls? | |
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supergirl
join:2007-03-20
Pensacola, FL
 ·Cox VOIP
·Skype
 ·Cox HSI
 ·AT&T Southeast
·magicjack.com
| Re: Magic Jack is a "10 out of 10" Value Call Quality - "I said I'd try it and got the same issues: poor sound, echos (lot of echoes--sounded like in a tunnel), busy signals (all circuits busy)..." Sorry you buy cheap computers.
Like you said, "some are weak", I don't like weak either. I like to pick up the phone, dial, and HEAR THE PERSON CLEARLY. THAT'S HOW MOM DID IT, THAT'S HOW AMERICA DID IT, and it worked out well till crappy productes like MJ, Vonage to hell, etc. came by. Even kids that use two cans with a string have better call quality than Sprint. Of course, the kids also get the other one everytime unlike a MJ!
Tmobile's @Home is going to be a VOiP competition killer NOT a MJ. Because you get a router NOT a little thingie that hooks into a USB port.
Always nice to meet a MJ rep. Thanks for astroturfing.
--
Saving the world keeps me busy. However, I find Earth very primitive from my home planet of Krypton.
-Supergirl | |
| | 
Rogerdodger64
@ibm.com
| I have to agree with you. It's 19.95. What can you complain about? The thing takes over your system in that it makes itself your sound card device. True. It also makes some registry changes you should be aware of as well like being the default sound device on boot up. This is all fixable and not an issue. I never get echos, weird sound issues, or anything else. It works EXACTLY like it should. The set up was not so simple. It failed to load the software, and the web site sucks totally. They try to force the 3.95 charge on you over and over for "rush" delivery. You will get it in 5 days or so either way. Don't pay it!! Also, be aware that too many callers in your chosen area code will have to dial the full number to ring your number. Verizon: I did not have to, but the local phone company (Qwest) said it was a long distance number which it isn't. Be aware of these things. So in the end my opinion is it works great, does not impose on my computer, (I dedicate a stand alone computer to it since I have so many in my house and set everything to green mode.) Get one today! | |
| | | rob27
Premium
join:2008-07-16
Mary Esther, FL
·Cox HSI
| Re: Magic Jack is a "10 out of 10" Value cox may be blocking the ports that allow for magicjack to use
OR
her signals can be too weak to allow for in/outbound traffic
OR
she's behind a corporate firewall that could be port blocking.
something tells me she's a geek and can very easily fix things like this.
if it's at her end.
-Rob
--
»www.cband.info come join our IRC chat room and meet some new friends and listen to some good radio. We don't bite unless it's a piece of steak! | |
| | | |
supergirl
join:2007-03-20
Pensacola, FL
·Cox VOIP
·Skype
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southeast
·magicjack.com
| Re: Magic Jack is a "10 out of 10" Value said by rob27 :cox may be blocking the ports that allow for magicjack to use OR her signals can be too weak to allow for in/outbound traffic OR she's behind a corporate firewall that could be port blocking. something tells me she's a geek and can very easily fix things like this. if it's at her end. -Rob MJ is crap. I think my connections are fine.
--
Saving the world keeps me busy. However, I find Earth very primitive from my home planet of Krypton.
-Supergirl | |
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