Recording calls was uncomplicated. Pamela's default format is MP3, but you can change to WAV, WMA, or OGG in the app's Sound Options. Pamela does not restrict the recording time; you get unlimited minutes.

One big snag, however: the frequent crashes. While Pamela mostly remained stable, it locked up enough at various times to make me mad. (I tested the program on two Windows machines and encountered the lock-ups on both units.) Specifically, Pamela froze at the end of missed incoming calls and when I was clicking various icons. As I write this, Scendix Software, Pamela's maker, was investigating my crash reports.

When I played back the recorded calls in Windows Media Player, the overall quality appeared roughly the same compared to the live call, if a tad inferior. Pamela gives you the option of typing up notes with each recording. This searchable note-appending capability came in handy, as it helped individualize each recording.

Pamela also provides a number of other customizable features for Skype devotees: call scheduling, call transfer, personalized sounds and moods (not my thing), and more.

If you depend heavily on Skype at work or at home, and you have a real need for customizable recording and call management features, check out the trial version of Pamela Professional. For me, Pamela's instability and its spotty voice-mail antics outweighed its usefulness. That said, if you're content with minimal recording options (that is, 15 minutes, tops), give the free version, , a try.