I HAVE to use Skype and it must work with Skype on the Windows platform (as in my linux box connecting to a Windows pc).
I know that there are alternatives but its how I talk to my kids and they arent able to use something else.
Microsoft recently announced the end of 'support' [lol] (and their intentional bricking) of Skype for Linux so that ONLY skypre for Linux Alpha/Beta will work. Can this work with a Windows client?
I have been using skype on Fedora for several years. I'm currently at fedora 25. I install it from lpf-skype, and I use it at work. Every thing works, I can invite to meetings, share my screen and all the rest.
Skype 5.0.0.5 works great under linux, been using it for a while, I have had no issues with it so far, interface is pretty much the same as the windows version.
I've been using Skype Alpha on Fedora 25, and RHEL for a while now. It works fine for me (message and video calls.) I've rarely ran into any bugs as of yet; it dose not have that Windows 8/10 design yet
Ghetto skype is a open source reverse engineered app based on the web client for skype that up until 5 left alpha actually worked better than the official counterpart. Actually skype 5 also looked stupidly the same to ghetto skype when the alpha came out. I would not be surprised if MS ¨borrowed¨ code from it to make 5 without telling anyone. Ghetto has an issue with video calls.
As for the OP. Get skype 5. It is in beta still but it will do its job decently and recently added video call support and works with windows clients.
Pretty garbage. Had an important video conference over Skype a few months ago and I didn't test the Skype for Linux client out because I assumed it worked well. Boy was I wrong. Half the conference, the dude on the other end's video was flickering and tinted blue, the connection kept dropping out, and half the time the dude on the other end couldn't even see me. Needless to say, that's the last time I used Skype for Linux.
That's the whole story pretty much. The dude was an IT veteran so he was cool since he had all sorts of weird computer issues in the past. Was just pretty annoying having to reconnect every 5 minutes. Didn't have a Windows machine on hand to try to make the call from.
native skype app (v4.3.0.37) not been updated for ages but still working, not available for download now. may come a time soon when it just won't connect to skype when they retire it the new skype for linux beta is only one can download from site now but better to use whatever is in repository, if available either version should do voice and video calls to windows machine no problem
I have been using the Skype for Linux Alpha on Lubuntu, and it works perfectly fine. I never had a problem talking to Skype users on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android.
Personally I prefer Discord for chat. But the Skype Alpha is alright... for a Microsoft product.