zoom

Carl is a teacher and is struggling with internet lag while doing distance learning, even though he has a UVerse provided wifi extender to help with the problem. Should he buy his own? Leo says that just because you have an extender, that doesn't mean there isn't another issue. It could be your bandwidth is too slow. And WiFi is often not the best way to handle video conferencing. Wiring your connection will always be faster and better. More consistent. You also want to pay attention to your upload speed. If your upload video speed is too slow, it's going to cause lag.

John is a teacher and his Dell XPS computer is just too old to handle the strain of distance learning through Zoom video conferencing. Leo says that computers age exponentially faster than most devices, and at 11 years old, it's high time John upgraded. The Dell XPS 13 is a great machine. But John wants a desktop this time around. Leo recommends getting one with a solid-state SSD drive. Don't get a hybrid model. SSD drive prices have reached the point where it's not only affordable to buy your desktop with one, but customers can get one that huge. 1TB of storage would be plenty.

Pente's Chromebook has an issue of stalling during a Zoom meeting. Leo says that the Chromebook could be underpowered for video conferencing and as such, have problems keeping up. But it could also be an issue with the Chromebook's radio or network card. You get what you pay for and if the Chromebook is a budget model, it may not be able to handle the bandwidth. You can help by making sure there's no other tab or extension running. 

A higher-priced Chromebook will have a faster processor, more memory, and better quality parts. 

Joe does Zoom with his friends, but he can't see his video. Leo says to check the video settings and make sure it has the right camera selected. Make sure the camera is turned on and any shutters are open. Some webcams have one on the lid for privacy. Also, look in the settings to make sure your camera is actually enabled. The camera may be turned off as a security feature. Double-check in another camera app to see if it works to be sure. 

Glen is fed up with Windows 10 updates breaking his system or forcing him to use the Edge browser when he'd rather use Chrome. Leo says that Microsoft is doing too much with bi-annual system updates. Lately, his windows are going outside the borders of his screen after he clicked a link in an email. Leo says that there is a default setting for Edge in system preferences that you can disable. So it won't force you to use Edge.

Craig wants to video conference on Linux. Leo says you can Zoom on Linux, but you need a modern browser to do it, and that means updating your desktop. Leo uses Gnome 3, but many people don't like it. Gnome 2 may work. Mate or XFCE are other options too.

Alan wants to know if Zoom is still a security risk? Leo says he's becoming less and less trusting of Zoom because they are giving law enforcement backdoor access to user accounts, and has canceled the account of an American activist. They have also done little to fix the security issues that have been cropping up, short of just requiring a password. Leo prefers JITSI, an open-source video conferencing solution that's free and you can start your own server for even more privacy. It's very easy to do. 

Lene has a Zoom account for video conferencing at work, and she will be setting up meetings while isolating at home. She's worried, though, about using a personal ID for the meeting and giving that ID to other colleagues for creating meetings. Leo recommends creating a separate user ID and pass that along to your colleagues to create other meetings. Leo also says that each user should have their own IDs. 

Susan installed Zoom to handle her physical therapy sessions online. She discovered though, that her computer has no camera or microphone built-in. So what should she get? She doesn't want to spend a lot in a limited amount of time. Leo says if she doesn't have a laptop or a smartphone, then she needs to be looking to buy a webcam. Leo likes Logitech's webcams. The Logitech C922 or C910 is great. They have built-in microphones as well and plug into your USB port.