Allow me to describe my experience.
- About 5 minutes before the start time, I navigate to the meeting invite URL on my Mac, in my default browser: Firefox.
- Dead on arrival - looks like I need to download and install Silverlight (50MB). Sure, whatever.
- Install Silverlight, restart Firefox. It's still telling me to install Silverlight. Weird.
- Might as well try Safari, probably closer to a "supported configuration" right? It's recognizing Silverlight, hurray! (but why didn't it configure Firefox?) Who cares, at least we're good to go now.
- Not so fast! I get this bright red error message: "You cannot join the meeting because of a server configuration issue. Please contact the meeting organizer."
- I email the organizer. A minute or two later comes the response: "the meeting has now started, you should be able to join." I guess not starting the meeting is a configuration issue...
- At this point, I switch over to a PC laptop, figuring I might as well conform to the expected Microsoft ecosystem.
- The meeting starts, and I'm about to "enter the lobby." I have a choice: Would I like to "join using my browser"' or "download and use LyncAttendee?"
- I choose browser. As it turns out, Audio isn't supported (wth is the silverlight plugin for?)
- I guess I have to see about getting Lync Attendee after all. Dammit, the URL for LyncAttendee isn't handy, because I've joined the meeting already using the browser...
- I go back to my original meeting invite URL... There's the link! I spend some time downloading (another 50MB) and installing.
- I rejoin the meeting using Lync Attendee instead of the browser. How weird - there is still no audio!
- Ah, but wait, I see an error message! "Your audio device is not configured properly." That's not very helpful.
- I verify that my speakers are working by clicking on the volume control... There's the familiar "Ding!" sound. I check control panel just to see if there's any other weird devices available. Nope. Seems fine to me.
- I notice the error message was click-able... Maybe there are some troubleshooting tips there.. "Your audio device is not set up properly, check your settings in 'Audio Device Options'" Alrighty then, let's just find that menu option....
- Geez, I can't seem to find it anywhere... let's try google: "lync attendee audio device not configured" Lots of hits.
- Good grief!! The first hit reveals that "Audio Device Options" DOESNT EVEN EXIST in Lync Attendee. That is apparently a Lync 2010 feature. Another wtf, and another dead end.
- Back to google. I navigate to the next search hit.. and miraculously, find a solution. Some internet guy responding to a forum post writes: "you must not have a microphone plugged in. If you don't have a mic, Lync Attendee reports audio configuration problems..." Wow. Really?
- I dig out a crappy old mic, plug it in, and presto - I can hear the presenter!