Magic Jack - Do You Use it?

Hi R. Miller;

You might want to read this page before you buy.

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/magic-jack-c105684.html

Allan

I've had the MagicJack for two weeks (on a 30 day free trail). Installation was minor problem. There is a update to the mac software that wasn't installed on my Jack. Went to on-line chat and the tech got it working with no drama. Also went back to on-line chat a few days later with some questions. Got the answers I needed right away. I'd say the on-line service is very good. Sound quality is great. No different from phone co. Connections are fast. You have to dial the area code for all out going calls (even local calls). Not a big issue. In many large cities you have to do this anyway. I am using my home answering machine, so I can't comment on the voice mail. Caller ID for incoming calls only shows on the computer screen. The caller ID info does not transfer to the attached phone. Not a big deal for me since I let the machine get most calls anyway. I have hooked the phone line from the Magic Jack to my household phone wire system and all the phones work including a 5.8 gHz cordless system with a base station and six phones and two hard wired phones.

Only major issue I see at this point is the fact that the computer has to be awake for the Magic Jack to work. If the computer goes to sleep, you can't get incoming calls. Not sure I like the idea of leaving my computer awake all the time. Won't this wear out the hard drive? Seems like they could find a way for the Magic Jack to wake the computer for an incoming call.

I have been using MagicJack for about 2 months. I have no complaints about the phone service-- works great-- but the software is less than ideal. Some issues:

You have to doubleclick "Start MagicJack" every time you plug in the device

You have to either disable the Apple firewall or every time you start up the MagicJack, you have to click "allow incoming connections from MagicJack."

I have a lot of problems when the computer sleeps. Usually it does not see the MagicJack USB drive after it wakes up. Sometimes this is solved by unplugging the MagicJack and then plugging it back in. Sometimes it causes my computer to hang when I next shutdown, restart, or run Disk Utility or any other app that would look for USB drives.

These inconveniences may be worth it though for the cheap phone service. I still use it myself.

I'm trying it out - seems to work fine except my caller ID does not work - that's a problem for me.

If my internet connection is via the local phone company and magicjack replaces my phone, what do I use to connect to the internet? Seems like it would cost more, not less.

-3 days ago I purchased and installed the MagicJack in my MacBook, then after 5 trial phone calls I started reading the reviews and I immediately decided not to use it any more, because the potential spyware or keylogger software that may be included on it, so I disabled my Macbook connection to internet until I can Uninstall the MagicJack software (which is apparently very difficult) and/or run a qualified spyware removal application.
- I found in the discussions and reviews that "MacScan" spyware removal and "AppZapper" uninstalling software would be some of the alternatives I may have to completely remove any files installed by MagicJAck, so I can start using my MacBook again.

-I will appreciate your advise on this matter and what is best way to do it : to remove the MagicJack first ant then run the spyware removal or the other way around?
Regards

I like the application, except every time I use it, it has to open up over my work. Is there a way either through automator, or terminal to make it where it will always stay hidden or minimized, or in one space with out making me switch spaces every time somebody places a call.

I believe I would mix that "whiner"board website at the ratio of about 1 grain of salt per gallon.

Kj

Product works just as advertised. Easy install and will save us quite some dollars each year, making all our long distance calls from Aruba (in the Caribbean) to our trade partners in the USA. Installed on an iMac.

To avoid having to double click every time, when the program is on, look for its icon in the dock, right click and activate "Open at Login".

Cheers!

I bought my MagicJack at Best Buy last February. Plugged it into my MacBook USB port and followed all the directions to get up and running. I called my daughter, just using my laptop’s mic. It was horrible! Nothing but static, and choppy conversation. (Pretty much the same complaints I’d read about MagicJack online before I bought it.) I figured I had once again succumbed to slick advertising and bought a useless device. But, I did a little googling for online suggestions regarding MagicJack.

The most common suggestions were:

1. Use an AC powered USB hub (instead of the under-powered ports in our computers.
2. Use a real phone! (I bought a $14 vtech at WalMart, don’t use the fancy, more expensive ones!)

I came home, plugged everything in and called my daughter again. This time, she had no clue I was using MagicJack. After talking for about 20 minutes, I asked her how I sounded and she said better than usual. (”Usual” was my Sprint landline.) I used MagicJack for another couple of weeks and had absolutely no complaints so I pulled the plug on Sprint. I have been a very happy MagicJack user from that day forward, plus I’m saving $70 a month in phone bills.

I do have a prepaid cellphone that I keep just in case the power goes out and for times when I’m away from my MacBook, but I had the cellphone even when I had the landline.

Judie