skype headset question (prob very stupid so sorry!)

melancholly

I want to be able to use skype and there are lots of headsets you can buy - some are called 'skype headsets'. Do I need one of these or can I just use any headset? The skype website just says that you need speakers and a microphone, so are the (more expensive) skype headsets just using the name to get me to part with more money?

would this be ok to use?

albertross_2

assuming that you have a headphone out, and microphone in socket, any headset will do.

melancholly

hmm.... going to go home and look at sockets - there's a headphone one definitely.... does the headset not just plug in there and do both?

(shamefully embarassed at not knowing this!)

albertross_2

on most/all PC soundcards, you have headphone/speakers out, line-in, microphone in.

Laptops sometimes only have headphone out, and microphone in.

melancholly

ok... work laptop that i want to use it on has headphone out and microphone in. so headsets have 2 things to plug in then?

(sorry!!)

albertross_2

yes, they normally have a green lead for headphones, and red for microphone, so the argos one should be fine for your laptop.