Instant
Messaging and Video Conferencing [Web Cam]
• Guide to Instant
Messaging from a long time IM'er!
Telephones are so 1995
[09.07.2004]
I don't know if I'm proud of this, but it's something
to take great note of in the growing up in such
a rapid area of when technology is exploding.
Now, just a tad before cell phones really began
to be mainstream, and just a tad after the internet
start becoming usable to the general public,
instant messengers came out. I was on the stepping
stone of this new revolution when it was first
released around 1996 with a program called ICQ
(I seek you).
I was introduced to ICQ at work, where I worked
as a design for a startup web site design and
hosting company in Petoskey, Michigan. My manager
asked me to install it, because we felt it was
a efficient way to communicate in the office
without having to get up or even page each other...
it was just an instant message. Well, I took
off from there and started to meet and chat with
other people around the world instantly! Usually,
they were other people, at work. Unfortunately,
after a while, some companies noticed the IM
revolution taking off and interfering with people's
work. So, I lost touch of some great people just
because of that fact. (This is also before every
person had a computer and internet connection
at their homes in addition to at their work place.)
It's
fun for me to look back on this, because even
thought I thought the IM (instant messenger,
if you haven't figured it out yet) were one of
the best programs, I never thought it would turn
into something so popular as emails (which seem
so slow for communications these days). Over
the years I have made it a point to keep up with
the instant messengers, not only to keep in touch
with friends and family, but also because I love
the technology! So, basically since around 1996
(8 years now) I have been using four main IM
clients. ICQ originally, though barely at all
now days, AIM, AOL's instant messenger stand
alone program client, MSN Messenger and Yahoo
Instant Messenger.
To add more to the excitement of IM is that today,
the majority of people not only have computers
with internet access in their homes, but they
also have high speed connections! (8 years ago,
I dreamt of this day). So companies that put
out AIM, MSN and Yahoo messengers are now including
the options to also have audio and video within
their instant messengers. Except when at work,
where just using the text comes in handy, you
can get very intimate with people all over the
world with just a quick click!
Below, I am going to list out the main IMs and
some of their pros and cons that I have experienced
over the past years. I hope you get something
out of the first hand knowledge that I present
below. I will also make a point to keep this
section up-to-date as soon as I am notified
of a new release per a IM client.
Click
on the name of the IM below to download
to your computer. I will do my best to
make sure that these links and versions
are always up-to-date ::
Updated last on 09.08.2004
iChat
AV (Mac only)
Hands
down, my favorite IM client is exclusively
for the Mac, yet
works great with the latest version of
AIM for PC users, iChat AV. iChat AV
is the best for one reason, they have
the best video conferencing technology
out there. iChat's video chat is smooth
and in real time 30fps, as well as, audio
that does not drop out or fade at the
same time, FINALLY! AIM has since incorporated
this codec (how
video
is
compressed),
but iChat AV keeps making this even better
and in the soon future you will not be
limited to just one chat at a time, but
four! Audio conferencing is just as spectacular.
Another huge plus, is it's design. Super
simple, highly function able and not
in your way of your work and play. Just
where instant messaging programs should
be at.
AIM
4.7 for Mac
AIM
5.9 for PC
AOL finally got their instant messenger,
stand alone program, AIM right after
version 5.5. They have incorporated video
which works with Mac's iChat beautifully.
By far the best choice for internet video
chatting with others because they are
using the same codec (or close enough
to it) as iChat does. AIM offers games,
which I suppose is nice for some people,
but I don't have enough time to fool
around with that feature. Another huge
plus for AIM is that it is the #1 chat
client out there today. Most anyone and
everyone has either AOL or AIM installed
on their computers, a automatic plus. For
Mac users, I really am not sure why you
would have AIM when you have iChat AV
which already works with the AIM network
and is far superior.
Yahoo Instant Messenger 2.53 for Mac
Yahoo
Instant Messenger 6.0 for PC
Yahoo messenger is getting better as
well from it's origin Both PC and Mac
version have video chat, which is a wonderful
thing. However, their codec for their
video chat is slow and choppy unlike
iChat and AIM. Yahoo seems to really
think having little pictures and a huge
list of smiley faced icons important
to their messenger, so they really run
with
that feature. I personally could care
less about emoticons and buzzing sounds,
gets annoying. All I use is :) and :)~
MSN Messenger 4.0 for Mac
MSN
Messenger 4.7 for PC
MSN is my least favorite messenger, however,
on the same note, it is not that bad
of a messenger program. Again, lots of
people use this, so that in itself keeps
it alive and well. My biggest complaint
is that it has video chat, but it only
works between PC users. Mac's version
of MSN Messenger does not have any audio
or video features as of yet. Bad Microsoft!
MSN Messenger also has (again only for
the PC) games and pretty pictures and
emoticons, but again, that is not important
to me.
ICQ
3.4 for Mac
ICQ 4.12 for PC
ICQ is hard one for me, because it was
the original instant messaging program
for the masses. It was a wonderful program,
however, through the years it got really
bloated (advertising, tons and tons of
options you don't use, etc.). So, though
I recommend it, it is now my least used
instant messenger. I know that I am not
the only one who feels this, because
they have released a 'lite' version of
the software for PC users that strips
down the 'bloatness' (is that a word?)
Further more, AOL bought out ICQ which
happened a few years ago. Naturally you
would think that they would phase out
ICQ and merge into AIM, but they still
haven't. I'm not exactly sure what is
going on, but you can use ICQ numbers
in the new AIM releases, so I don't know
why anyone even needs this program to
survive any longer. The Mac version of
ICQ stinks and is rarely updated. I use
a program called Icy
Juice on my Mac, which is much better.
Still, I rarely use this.
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Alternative solutions
So there are other IM clients out there, but the four listed above are the mainstream
programs. Why use a IM client that other people don't use? No one to talk to
then! There are hybrid IM clients out there that combine all the above four programs
into one. This is the perfect solution right! Nope, because they are constantly
in battle with the companies (ie. AOL, Yahoo, etc.) for basically logging onto
their networks without permission. So, the companies alter some things around
and then the hybrid program doesn't work. You then have to upload patches so
that they will work again. This gets old and that is why I no longer use them.
They are also bad if you are interested in video chat abilities. There are usually
none to choose from.
Before, the IM craze evolved, IRC was the bomb. IRC is basically chat rooms in
a IM program form. Usually real computer freaks, with specific interests use
these programs. They are still really popular, however, I just feel they are
really not in the same category as the well known IM programs.
Finally, there are specialized chat programs out there everywhere. I use one
called Chat Client X (wow, original name there) for the Mac. It specifically
logs onto Gay.com chat service. It's great to use, because I frequent Gay.com
a lot. But, this is only something good if you use it a lot, otherwise you
are going to clutter up your computer with tons of specialized chat programs
and
we don't want to do that!
Installation
Before I go, I do want to mention something very important. The installation
of the chat programs. This will effect how much you end up enjoying your IM experience.
When you install the programs, please take some time and go into that specific
program's preferences/options area. Choose if you want the program to automatically
start when you power up your computer (I know I don't, can't stand that preset).
Also choose to turn off their pop up ads and news features, I just want to chat,
not read the news of the past year and their company. So, be sure you go through
the preferences or options area (depending on the program how it is labeled)
and go through it carefully. You only have to go through it once, so do spend
the time. These developer are nuts, they don't want you to leave even (so be
sure to click the option to exit the program when you close the program) They
try to get you in every which way!
Hope my little rants and raves helped you some! Enjoy! Feel free to message me
any time and say hi too!
Kev!
iChat/AIM :: vectorlyme
Yahoo :: vectorlime
MSN Messenger :: vectorlyme@hotmail.com
ICQ :: 2330978
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