How to find software channels?

It means through the Repositories you have installed. Skype will normally appear through the Medibuntu Repository.

You can view them through Synaptic Settings>Repositories

If I am installing a newer app I will often just ignore this message

Working through the Medibuntu guide might help as the guide got updated a couple of days ago
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu
definitely skip the optional step if you want to use skype!

Then it might be better to install skype through Synaptic as the message says
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

But as Arochester pointed out there are times when the newer version might be better even if it hasn't been fully properly tweaked to fit in with Ubuntu (and hence gone into the repos). To test this out i would install one version, use it and if not completely happy then i would try the other one and see if that was better :)

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Another dumb question: how do I open the repositories? I don't even know if I installed any repositories...

Look at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/sources

Thank you arochester. This explains one thing: I have no downloaded repositories. Now what?

Under Software Sources, I have 3 tabs: updates, third-party software; authentication. None of the third-party software I don't have any skype software.

Then I'm not sure how you got the message: "An older version is available in a software channel"

Experiment. Open Synaptic and do a search for Skype. Is it there?

If it is not there then just install the version from Skype...

You should get used to installing more repositories where appropriate. Medibuntu for example gives libdvdcss2 (necessary to watch commercial dvds), win32codecs (and win64codecs for a 64 bit computer - necessary to run some Windows bits), realplayer if you want it.

Instructions to install Medibuntu here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Note that it is a 2 part install 1) Install Repository and 2) Get GPG key

I did the install of Medibuntu. Also, found Skype. But which application do I double-click?

Here's the files: skype A VoIP software - Medibuntu package; skype-common A VoIP software -common files - Medibuntu package; skype-config Configuration files for Skype; skype-mid Skype for MIDs

"But which application do I double-click?"

If you have downloaded Skype from the Skype website ( http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/linux/choose/ ) just RIGHT click on the download and choose install with Gdebi...

Is MID a "Mobile Internet Device"?

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/skype-common_2.0.0.72-0medibuntu1.1_all.deb: trying to overwrite `/usr/share/skype/sounds/CallFailed.wav', which is also in package skype
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/skype-mid_3.0.0.93-3_lpia.deb: trying to overwrite `/usr/bin/skype', which is also in package skype

I ran sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install skype;

I get the following message:
 sudo apt-get install skype
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
skype is already the newest version.
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
  skype: Depends: skype-common (= 2.0.0.72-0medibuntu1.1) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

Still cannot install skype.

Right, so you have done all the relevant instructions on the Medibuntu page? Perhaps now try installing skype (or reinstalling skype) through the Synaptic Package Manager?
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

You might need to uninstall the one you already have and then install the one slightly older one in Synaptic but you don't need to reboot during any of that.

This is the "1st way didn't work so try 2nd way" plan.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

You will need to remove the Medibuntu version before you can install the Skype version.

Remove it in Synaptic. Make sure you have closed Synaptic before you try Gdebi. All of these Package Managers use one database and you will get complaints/error messages.

I removed all skype associated files in Medibuntu and started over.

Here's the latest error message: Failed to install package 'skype-ubuntu-hardy_2.1.0.47-1_386(4).deb'

sudo apt-get install skype
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
skype is already the newest version.
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
  skype: Depends: skype-common (= 2.0.0.72-0medibuntu1.1) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

Tried the above suggestion 'apt-get -f install': no luck
 apt-get -f install
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

When I pull up skype to download all I get for choices are ubuntu downloads...no Gdebi. Obviously I'm doing something wrong.

Hey, you are not alone. We are all getting it wrong at the moment. Those last error messages you told us about were probably because you were trying to install from the command-line while Synaptic was open, ie you did what we said. The message with "medibuntu1.1" shows that you have the latest medibuntu. The guide got updated the day before yesterday.

I think if you close Synaptic and try this

sudo apt-get -f install

again then it might sort something out.
Good luck with this!
Regards from
Tom :)

Tom/arochester

Great news! It finally took and we tested it. Good to go!!!

Thank you both very much.

Mark

Brilliant, nicely done!! :)))
So skype is installed?
Regards from
Tom :)