Instant Messengers - What do you prefer?
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I’ve been using Instant Messaging programs since Windows 98 days. I remember my first Instant Messaging program was Windows Messenger. These days, messengers have come a long way. In fact, there’s even services out there that can either enhance current messengers or bring the services into one program.
One such add-on to Windows Live Messenger, or MSN Messenger depending on what version you download, can enhance how the messenger works. Messenger Plus! adds a couple of features such as custom toasts, commands within the instant message window, skins, and custom scripts which can further enhance the messenger. It’s by far the most advanced and stable add-on I’ve seen.
A popular service that brings the Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, and AIM together is Trillian. Trillian can do just about everything you can do with the messengers themselves. The only downside is that to access features such as Video Messaging, you have to use the Pro version which costs $25. There are other programs out there that support multiple messengers like Trillian does, but they don’t have as many features as Trillian.
Personally, I don’t mind running the programs by themselves, especially Windows Live Messenger. In terms of the fact that I can use the add-on Messenger Plus!, it really becomes more useful then Trillian. I use Messenger Plus! for my own scripts which I wouldn’t be able to port over to Trillian, so that’s one of the major reasons.
8 Comments
Nick
June 10th, 2008
at 8:02pm
I really like Digsby. It allows connections to multiple networks, and has twitter intergration too.
Paul
June 10th, 2008
at 9:37pm
Gotta be Digsby http://www.digsby.com/). Puts everything in 1 place… AOL, Yahoo, Live, Google, Hotmail, Gmail, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter. Does it all and does it well. FREE
bem
June 11th, 2008
at 5:54am
My preferred instant messaging? The telephone.
Messenger is the first thing I delete from my OS when setting up a computer. I still have a bad taste from the 98 days when crud would crawl up that pipe even though I didn’t use it. I’ve cleaned up my niece’s machine from IM spread junk so many times I’m amazed she’s still allowed to use it.
In this security conscious new net environment having programs with that level of access just seems like screen doors on an armored truck. Outside of a network environment, I just don’t see the use of them.
Seth
June 11th, 2008
at 6:49am
Digsby is my favorite IM client by far. It’s also my favorite way to manage Gmail.
Gavin
June 11th, 2008
at 11:18am
I have been using messenger programs for a long time as well. I’ve been through ICQ, AIM, Trillium MSN. I now spend all my time on MSN with the Plus addon so I can run two at the same time. I got fed up of Trillium crashing and not being compatible with various things on MSN as well.
One problem I have with messengers these days is that they are over bloated. I don’t want ad’s or a built in calendar or stock quotes or games or any of that stuff. All I want is a program that lets me communicate with other people. Add voice and video if you want but keep it a communication tool.
If I want to monitor rss feeds I will use another program that specializes in that. I like to keep programs simple.
Artem Russakovskii
June 12th, 2008
at 2:04am
After using trillian for years, I’ve switched to digsby and couldn’t be happier.
James Yepsen
June 15th, 2008
at 1:10pm
I have been with AOL messanger for a long time and like most it for the most part. I enjoy Yahoo for being able to use vidieo, I enjoy being able to see as well as chat with My family that live in Illinois.
MSN is ok too but most of the time it is Yahoo that I use.
insanity54
August 27th, 2008
at 11:57am
Pidgin is the only IM for me. Multiple protocols is A-O-K. Trillian is a Organization nightmare, and Digsby has too many features and eye candy that I don’t care for.