As the configuration of Pc & notebook, depend on your application !
Here are my skype it out by dual core CPU & P4 ,Barton .....................
I always use my TM5520 or Extensa 2609 to skype to Japan , as talking voice is very clear , not bad than 中華電訊, but cost is big difference , it is meaning that more powerful CPU or dual core CPU ( AMD TL-58 ) ,decode the Voice more fast,not lag .... ( another factor is Wless internet speed about 5 to 6 M bits) as Illustrator or Photoshop ,there are no need to explaining it again.
Here it is my feeling , if not corrected,please revised it .
Minor language corrections: For the configurations of the PCs and Notebooks, they depend on the applications that you use! Here is my experience on Skype by using dual core CPU compared to P4, Barton....... I always use my TM5520 or Extensa 2609 to Skype to Japan. The voice quality is very good. It's almost as good as 中華電訊, but cost a lot less. Which means the more powerful CPU, the faster the voice gets to decode and without lagging...(another factor will be wireless Internet speed is about 5 to 6 Mbits) And for the Illustrator or Photoshop, there's no need for extra explaination.
OK. I'm kinda disagree with you. Skype quality is mostly about Internet speed. Of course hardware is a factor, but that's if you compare a dual core to a P3, or compare a VGA webcam to a 2MP HD webcam (this part I did try before). Application part is true. Office 2007 will be a disaster on a P3 or older computer. That's just the way that companies make money.