Yahoo vs. Skype vs. Google - Video Communication Lab

For this assignment, I was asked to compare and contrast the pros and cons of different video-chat or teleconferencing options. The following are features of each service in regards to the Interface, Ease of Use, and Quality of Yahoo, Skype and Google services.

Interface

• Yahoo: This interface has icons illustrating the component you can use to communicate with another user during a video call. The interface is also set up to look like an old-school, AOL Instant Messenger box, and is in a separate window (which is placed on the right side of the computer screen) than the Yahoo email account. There are initially drop-down menus with options of communication methods, including video-chat. A buddy list, compiled of members of the user's address book, is in the window. There are also ads at the bottom of the window. When new calls are being made to the user, a little box pops up in the lower right-hand corner of the computer screen.
  
• Skype: In the bottom of the Skype window (located on the right side of the screen, like Yahoo), a call and end button are conveniently placed. All the user has to do is click on the contact's name and press the call button to start a video chat with them. Skype's window also has several, self-explanatory tabs with pictures to help those of us who are visual learners (tabs include: History, SkypeFind, Call Phones, and Contacts). There is also the option of putting a button into an internet browser to open skype.
  
• Google: G-chat has a pop-out option that the user can use if they prefer to have their chat in a separate window. Otherwise, the list of contacts and options is located on the left side of the window containing their gmail account. With user action, this can be moved to a different spot in the window. There are icons next to the names of all the the contacts, indicating whether they're in the mood to talk, have video-chatting capabilities, etc. By scrolling over the contact names, the user can choose to email, chat, or video chat with a contact. The user can even bring up recent conversations they have had with that person. The interface of G-chat is very minimalistic.
  

Ease of use

• Yahoo: There are buttons illustrating user actions, and many options to choose from on the drop-down menus. The buddy-list-esque feel to it makes it easy to see who's online. Users can also send photos and documents without leaving the video-chat window at all. The scribbler feature makes it easy to illustrate something or do something humorous.
  
• Skype: It can automatically sign you on when you start up your computer. Most of the options, such as starting a video call, are located visibly in the window, so a video call is just a few clicks away. There are also options the user can set to indicate whether or not they want people to chat with them, making it easy to show the mood of the person.
  
• Google: The fact that it is in the email inbox makes video calls very accessible for gmail users. Rolling over the contacts for the option is an easy way for Google to hide all of the options that many users do not use, and allows it to fit easily into the inbox window. All the user has to do to end a video chat is exit out of the window that appears in their gmail account. There are no extra window to slow computer speed, either.

Quality of service

• Yahoo: the video is a relatively high-resolution for video calls. The voices are pretty clear as well, though the sound itself does not sound very good. The chat conversation pops up right away in its respective section of the window. There is some lag with the chat and video, though.
  
• Skype: the quality of the video is also great. Much like a real telephone call, there is a bit of a wait before the chat actually connects with another user. The sound is not very clear, and is kind of grainy. There is a small lag, but nothing that is terribly distracting from the conversation.
  
• Google: G-chat video quality has the least resolution, and the sound is very similar to Skype. However, there is not really a lag.

Yahoo’s quality is great, and I was pleasantly surprised when we used it in class. Visually, it is pretty easy on the eyes, with its easy-to-see buttons for chatting options and preferences. I thought the scribbler option was creative, and the internet games are nice because both parties can play easily. There are lots of customization features with Yahoo, which is an added bonus. For me, however, Yahoo lacks depth. I have to log into my email account again to use its features in another window. There are a lot of scroll down menus, which are confusing, and do not really help me chat with other people. The chat ended when we tried to use the scribbler option, which would have been frustrating if I was trying to video chat with someone I had not seen in quite some time. It looks really good when the user first uses it, but there are definitely a lot of kinks Yahoo needs to work out.

Skype has lots of options. I did not realize until doing this research that, on Skype, I can shop online or play games with another user, which is different than the standard “let’s have a Skype-date” option; Skype does a great job of allowing users to relate to each other on more than just a visual level. Users of Skype can play games together rather than just talk about what they’re going to do when they see each other. It also signs you on automatically when starting your computer, so that you do not have to worry about remembering to sign on for that important call. While it can be annoying, Skype offers a simple tutorial to help users get started and get the most out of it. However, with so many options, Skype overwhelms me. I personally do not use it very often because I get so confused sometimes. A major drawback to the games option is that the user has to download another application to play them. Also, to make calls to a cell phone, the user has to pay for it, which, to me, makes it a pointless option.

Google’s service is easy to use with the roll-over feature, and I like that it is already in your email inbox. It makes it less of a pain to use G-chat, because I do not have to log into another account for another service – I can do anything I want (messaging, email, video calling) in one place, without having to open up another window. Google clearly displays who is online and who has video-calling capabilities, which is very user friendly. The stream also appears right in my inbox, and I can minimize it anytime I wish to. Cons to Google’s option are that there are not a whole lot of options. I cannot send pictures to another user while I am chatting, but I have to email files and minimize the chat before I can do so. There also are not any games or scribbling options for chatters, which makes G-chat seem to be a more business-like option. The quality of the video and audio is also not that great, but then again, if I am multi-tasking, I do not really need great quality of video.

Google wins the Google vs. Yahoo war again for me, because of its great functionality and usefulness. I would like to see Google add more options like Yahoo and Skype have, such as file sharing and games, but since the user is already logged onto their email account, that may be an irrelevant or redundant wish. Skype has the most options, such as games, online shopping, and telephone calling but so many options can be confusing compared to G-chat’s useful features.