Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
> zxcvbob wrote:
>> Would it work with an old laptop with a broken screen that still runs
>> OK? It could be set-up on top of the upright freezer and dedicated to
>> the MagicJack, and its aging battery would even provide a half-hour or
>> so of uninterruptible power supply.
>
> That's an interesting question. If you bought the thing, plugged it in and
> it started to install a program, how would you enter the information it
> needed and click on the appropriate things?
>
> If you can get over that hump, then it will work. How well is another issue,
> I can't predict that. :-) The other problem may be where you get your local
> number. I have a friend in one part of Colorado and the only number they
> can get is for a long distance call.
>
> Kind of defeats the local phone number thing for them. If you can get
> one where you want, it should be ok.
>
> Note the UPS function of the laptop only is any good if your Internet
> connection is through it or on another UPS. If you have a router, or some
> other connecting box plugged into the wall, it will go off when the power
> does taking your phone line with it.
>
>> I have a Virgin Mobile cellphone that I don't use much. It costs me $5
>> per month for more minutes than I use so they just accumulate.
>
> You aren't by any chance in Eastern PA? My wife needs a cell phone there in
> late July for a week. :-) We're looking at the AT&T $10 phone, with the
> $3 a day plan. She gets "unlimited" calls for a day and only pays for
> those days she uses the phone. We then plan to pass it on to another
> relative who is going to the US in August.
>
> A friend of mine in the US recommended it because he was using his cell phone
> only a few days a month, and this was a lot cheaper. It has a "gotcha", to
> keep the air time for a year, you have to buy $100, which comes out to 33 days
> or 2 days a month average with 9 extra days.
>
>> The land-line bill has so many taxes and surcharges added on (no matter
>> who the carrier) it costs more for that than the actual phone service.
>> I'm currently getting phone service from the cable company -- doesn't
>> seem any better or worse than the phone company except now the phone
>> goes out when we lose power -- and I can't dial out with my old rotary
>> phones.
>
> If you get your Internet from the same system, it won't help to get a
> VoIP phone, no matter whose.
Not to my knowledge, VoIP doesn't get taxed like a standard landline
here AFAIK. My AT&T DSL service has just the regular tax problem, will
look at the next bill and see for sure but it costs me $19.95 a month
for high speed internet service and I haven't seen any extra taxes
tacked on that bill.

>
> May I interest you in an Amateur Radio (Ham) license? :-)
>
> Geoff.
>
>
Bob's a big enough ham as it is. <G>