which is best/worst MSN/AIM?

A client wants to talk to me via MSN or AIM (the AOL one) but I don't want either stinking thing on my PC, I prefer Skype. BUT I have to install one. Does anyone have any info on which is the least intrusive and hoggish etc etc? I actually totally killed MSN off my system when I first got XP, and thus don't have a clue where it is anymore. Maybe I should download the latest version and install that.

Anyone got any info? Thanks in advance.

if you want the best of both world, and a less intrusive solution, opt for Trillian.
It supports MSN/AIM/ICQ and more.

interesting...
btw, can you use AIM WITHOUT installing AOL?

GAIM. Trillian and the other ones like it are bloatware more than anything else.

oops. just installed bloaty trillian, but at least it doesn't auto load on boot or everytime I access the Internet.

I find most clients use Yahoo. I have trillian but hardly anyone seems to use the others, so I'm usualy only on Yahoo unless requested otherwise.

Gaim is what you are after, as Noel said.

sure can.

Anyone know any decent Internet Whiteboard software that's free and not MSN?

Are you even trying to find these things yourself?

no.

why? because a recommendation is worth a lot to me. I can trawl through a load of sites found on google and not come up with anything good for hours (sometimes) whereas here (most) people are happy to help. I know you are just dying to type STFW...

Noel: Is it your time of the month or something? Go an get a pizza and take up some vice or another and get off my back dude. Do you like making enemies?

Why? Because you're not helping yourself.

How hard is it to do this?
http://www.google.com/search?hs=lLv&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=opera&rls=en&q=msn+messenger+alternative&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hs=WLv&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=opera&rls=en&q=aol+messenger+alternative&btnG=Search

I don't think I've done anything unusual. I think you're just not used to being disagreed with.

.

not sure where that came from? Doesn't seem to be any basis for that comment. Listening to other people's viewpoints is essential in business and life, and many people have helped change the way I think over the years.

Pizza is good! I think i'm gonna get some now.....i was starving like crazy but couldnt quite think of what to eat.......thanks for the subliminal tip!

We have used AIM for years to keep in touch with the kids and never had any problems.

The MSN Messenger specific viruses keep me away from MSN. Yahoo IM rarely works properly and has always had compatibility issues between versions. ICQ used to be good until AOL bought it and made the ads so intrusive.

no worries dude, I ordered one in yesterday with chips(fries) and coke, yum. Tonight I'm having homemade curry, nice.

Thanks for the info Kuron. I didn't know about MSN virii!

Virii isn't a word.

"E" isn't a word/name either, but that didn't stop you from using it as username :)

Virii is rather strange, but if it gets used enough, it will find its way into the dictionaries in 50years or so :D

MSN is best, and worst. More likely than not, you won't have to install it, as it will have come with your copy of windows.

yawn. Kuron edited his post.

FD: Yeah but I totally removed it cos it annoyed me so much. I guess it's the standard regretably.

Least obtrusive is possible Google Talk, but not as widely used as others.

Personally I use ICQ 2000, since it's less annoying than the later versions.

Note that there's also a webbased version of ICQ called ICQ2Go, that runs in a browser and does not require you to install any software on your PC. Great if you only expect to use it for a 'short' period, e.g. working on one project or something.

Linkage: http://www.icq.com/download/icq2go/

thanks.

Any freeware "Whiteboard" software that isn't MSN? Thanks...

Microsoft Netmeeting allows you to share a whiteboard... Comes included with Windows XP, although it no longer has a shortcut icon associated with it.

Launch: start -> Run -> conf.exe

One catch: while it's running, DirectX may not work properly, so keep that in mind if you're also working on game programming stuff.

ok thanks, looking into it :-)

I just set Skype up yesterday.
It seems good.
Any experiences?

I like it, sometimes I feel that if you both talk at once, it can cut the other person off a bit which phones don't do. Also try it with a webcam!

Skype is cool. All my business is done via Skype (phone calls in and out).

Skype also has a 'chat' mode, where you can send text messages back & forth instead of voice.

yep, although talking via Skype is still much quicker ;-)

Skype webcam appears jerky - 5 frames across 1 second, 3 seconds pause, and repeat.
Could be the web though.

I use the skype webcam stuff too, and haven't noticed any pauses... Seems smoother than the others I've tried.