<p>I don't attend boarding school...yet (Sorry, student on the parents forum :)), but I've moved a few times and have a lot of friends around the country so I just use MSN messenger. The family laptop came with a built in webcam and microphone, but most of my friends have extermal microphones/cameras. It works fairly well.</p>
<p>My kids keep in touch with their grandparents and cousins via a $20 webcam and msn live. Sure, there is a lag, but I still think it's the coolest StarTrek thing ever.</p>
<p>^ I've never really noticed the lag when I use it.</p>
<p>Princess'Dad,</p>
<p>I guess you must have chosen the wrong school. Too close to the wrong mall. With ours, the mall they take them to is inferior to the shopping we have 2 miles from our home here. If you are familiar with Turkey Creek, you'll know what I'm talking about.</p>
<p>Mine isn't a mall rat, anyway. However, if they had a good hockey store nearby...</p>
<p>I thought 2.5 hours was long enough, guess I underestimated the "power of the mall" (I think they have a Dick's there, too)</p>
<p>We have had no problems with Verizon in rural Mass. but text messaging is even better (unlimited plan for $10/month per phone, plus email is convenient on my blackberry when son is at his computer.</p>
<p>I just wanted to say that we finally got skype set up and it was sooooo nice to be able to see each other. We all really enjoyed that. Sometimes I just miss seeing my daughter's face and I was able to see her and see her expressions when we were talking and I even met her roommate.</p>
<p>oovoo works very well</p>
<p>yea and if u hav macs definitely use ichat</p>
<p>I’m a Skype fan. I’m overseas, 2 oldest children in (separate) BS, family in the DC area. Can’t beat the price. Quality (video lag) is seldom a serious issue. You can also do conference calls, with folks in different locations (i.e., the two kids) getting online with me, plus with Mom & younger siblings back in DC. Wow. </p>
<p>I had to chuckle at the text message posts. We also coughed up the $10 to Verizon for unlimited messaging – a prudent measure if ever there were one. Additionally, having faced the lost cell phone before, we’ve taken out insurance plans through Verizon for the teen phones (I think about $5/month/phone). Best money I’ve spent. I have replaced phones that have been lost, run over, washed/dryed, etc. </p>
<p>Cheers</p>