IM progs

killingpeople · Jan 2009

I am looking for a new instant messenger client, I'd love to hear your recommendations.
I'd like something simple, clean, fast, nothing bloated, and would support multiple popular IM services; Yahoo, MSN, ICQ, Gmail, etc.

I'm currently using Digsby and she's been lagging a bit on me lately, I'd like to try something new.

I'm looking at Pidgin right now, if anyone has been using it and has opinions of it, I'd like to hear your breath shapes.

-kp

moose · Jan 2009

trillian!

http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/

EarthQuake · Jan 2009

I've been using trillain for a long time, never had many problems with it(file transfers can be iffy when someone is using a different client). Some people seem to hate it, and will tell you its bloated, but it seems to have just what i need, so whatever.

Slum · Jan 2009

http://www.pidgin.im/

killingpeople · Jan 2009

I used Trillian before Digsby. I think I hated it ... but I know I love EQ and Moose... It's become quite the dilemma.

EarthQuake · Jan 2009

Pidgin used to be GAIM, correct? Or am i thinking of something else...

Jesse Moody · Jan 2009

Trillian. Been using it for years. No problems here.

Ghostscape · Jan 2009

EarthQuake wrote: »

Pidgin used to be GAIM, correct? Or am i thinking of something else...

yeah, it used to be GAIM, but then aol threatened to sue them.

I use the hell out of pidgin and love it.

At work I use meebo.com, which is web-based but does support multiple protocols.

notman · Jan 2009

I used Trillian for a long time also, but it seemed as though it took more ram with each revision. The development seems to have come to a stand still on it. They've been promising a new version forever now. I seem to recall them having problems with the MSN network too, and not resolving it for a long time.

Anyway, I'll 2nd the Pidgin recommendation. I use it in Ubuntu and in Windows. It still could use a few features IMO, but it fits your requirements. It's simple, not bloated, and supports all the networks.

If you need something to be more mobile, I'd also suggest checking out Meebo.com. It is a web based IM setup, but it's really only good if you plan on jumping onto systems where you don't want to install an IM client.

Edit: Damn cross post with Ghostscape... he echoed my words

thomasp · Jan 2009

clean and simple and supports the usual suspects - http://www.miranda-im.org/

Jeremy Lindstrom · Jan 2009

do any of them pull in your contacts, I used pidgin and miranda I think previously, and you added accounts but then didn't have any contacts. Which thankfully trillian pulls in. I wouldn't mind switching to one of the newer ones if it would grab contacts like trillian does..

Slum · Jan 2009

Dekard: Yep. I use the same accounts on 4 different machines, and have never had any issues with pidgin.

oXYnary · Jan 2009

Pidgin as well. BTW, if you haven't updated it recently, you should. MSM changed some things behind the scenes that first was failing with pidgin, and then made your messages unreliable. The new version., 2.5.4 fixes.

ohnein · Jan 2009

I'm using Pidgin as well. It's very clean and works perfectly.

Gav · Jan 2009

I also use Pidgin...no complaints, really.

bounchfx · Jan 2009

Slum wrote: »

http://www.pidgin.im/

this. i haven't used trillian in a couple years but it was beh and bloated back then IMO. pidgin is nice simple and clean.

oobersli · Jan 2009

i've used meebo.com for a long time. no install /download is nice if I want to hop on a friend or familys pc to check an IM.

Vrav · Jan 2009

Pidgin is great! Used it since GAIM. Be sure to customize it to your liking though.

katzeimsack · Jan 2009

thomasp wrote: »

clean and simple and supports the usual suspects - http://www.miranda-im.org/

w0rd!

love it

Vrav · Jan 2009

Since IM programs demand OS navigation most the time, I take this moment to pimp out a tool I have enjoyed for ages now (once you use, never go back sort of thing): KatMouse. Seriously, this functionality should be default. I can scroll a chat window or browser with either on top of it without having to tab out; can even scroll between the chat tabs in my pidgin window, if I hover over them - oh jeeze it's cool, use it.

Pedro Amorim · Jan 2009

i use digsby as some of you. i love it. one of the features that i love is that all of your settings get stored on there servers. so if you format you dont have to customize again. you simply log in and it everything gets set up like it used to be before.

notman · Jan 2009

I would love digsby more if they would get their linux version done

Jeremy Lindstrom · Jan 2009

ok, installed pidgin, now how would you customize it?

bounchfx · Jan 2009

actually wondering the same thing myself. I've been using default for the past year and haven't cared to customize, but i'm interested if there is something sweet out there.

leilei · Jan 2009

thomasp wrote: »

clean and simple and supports the usual suspects - http://www.miranda-im.org/

I used to use this for ICQ, still have to logout and back to update status and it doesn't always get everyone's status

and it's also definitely not bloated, I can confirm this (Works nice on 486s still!)

steady · Jan 2009

meebo woot wooooot

Michael Knubben · Jan 2009

Pidgin. Digsby actually freaked me out a bit with the privacy agreement. Read it, it's vague enough for it to be able to mean (in my mind) 'we'll use your facebook/msn/whatever personal data to sell'

Super · Jan 2009

Pidgin? It can't even manage an installation: "Error Installing GTK+ Runtime" whenever I try, even with no other apps running.

Enjoy your deathtrap, ladies.

Jeremy Lindstrom · Jan 2009

< grumpy >I got that error too at work, although it ran fine at home, now I'm getting all kinds of messages from folks I don't know spambots, etc on pidgin, unless i find an option to only allow people on my list to message me it's going away. < /grumpy >

notman · Jan 2009

Like I mentioned before, I use it on two different OSs and 3 different computers... never saw that error. Looks like a GTK issue... not a pidgin problem (from what google has returned).

soulstice · Jan 2009

I C Q... no jk.. msn live t.t

killingpeople · Jan 2009

soulstice, did you read past the thread title?

Talbot · Jan 2009

I tried the Trillian Astra Beta... I really liked it... until they closed it.

I'm using meebo.com until trillian astra is released... I don't feel like downloading something I don't like.

moose · Jan 2009

ive been waiting for astra, seems like they've been workin on it for ages.

and

KP

Shogun3d · Jan 2009

Saw a buddy using the Astra beta, it looked really nice and clean. I think Trillian is going in the right direction with it, i've used Digsby as well, becomes such a memory hog. Have yet to try Pidgin, sounds good as i'll give it a go.

pior · Jan 2009

Used Pigdin for a while, now switched to Miranda - even slicker.
2 plugins I use : the one showing your own current avatar picture, and the one for tabbed conversations.

Vrav, thanks alot for the heads up on Katmouse. It's a new favorite!!!!

Jeremy Lindstrom · Jan 2009

Ok, uninstalling pidgin now, I don't like the fact I get pm's from people not on my list, get several an hour adbots..

Tried installing Miranda, but it wants to look locally for your ICQ contacts and I don't have ICQ installed. Trillian and Pidgin grabbed them alright though...

Oh well, back to Trillian..

Dammit~~~

Talbot · Jan 2009

moose wrote: »

ive been waiting for astra, seems like they've been workin on it for ages.

Yeah I rapidshared the beta. :P It was great until they made the beta member login more secure.

They are in the 90's on the beta version... im hoping that 100 will be the final thing.

Btw Moose... I sent you a friend request on xbox live. :P

diminished_Self · Jan 2009

ive been using pidgin for my ICQ, MSN, Y!, AIM, GoogleTalk, and IRC for probably about 3 years now. I have NEVER gotten an IM from someone whom wasnt on my list, something that used to happen to me with trillian all the time. I believe it was actually a setting in my ICQ/AIM accounts that allowed unsolicited IMs from people not on my friends list. when i made the switch i saw the setting and changed it. it has nothing to do with the IM program you use.

Jeremy Lindstrom · Jan 2009

glad it works for ya..

but never had any problems with it until i went to pidgin.. so your mileage may vary.

notman · Jan 2009

I get one every once and a while with Pidgin, but it comes in spurts of one or two, then nothing for months.
Pidgin definitely has some things that I'd like to see improved, but the multiOS support is what keeps me using it. Oh, and Pidgin supports GTalk, which Trillian only supports if you pay for Pro.

IM progs

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