Best Instant Messaging Software?

[Godzilla Blitz]

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, but I'm looking to use some instant messaging software. Any one product better the rest?

Thanks in advance.

[st.cronin]

afaict they all suck

[MJ4H]

I recommend Miranda-IM. Supports all the protocols and is very slim.

[Mr. Wednesday]

I'm fond of gaim.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I recommend Miranda-IM. Supports all the protocols and is very slim. I just was going to ask about that one. Hadn't heard of it until about ten minutes ago, but it seems to be what I'm looking for.

[jeff061]

Trillian. Same idea as Miranda. Even the free version is still very proffessional.

[FBPro]

Trillian. Same idea as Miranda. Even the free version is still very proffessional.
Concur

[jbmagic]

i love Gaim. it does all the messenger in one

[terpkristin]

Don't know about resource usage for Miranda, but according to my task/process manager, trillian.exe (professional version) is using 26 MB of memory.

What about the other clients? Specifically, GAIM and Miranda..

/tk

[MJ4H]

I used trillian first then gaim. when i found miranda, ive never considered another im client since. the plugin architecture is what sets it apart. you can get plugins for new protocols when they come out, or things like text to speech plugins, whatever.

additionally, miranda is very light on the resources (im connected to 4 servers and miranda is using 11 MB)
trillian and gaim are good, too, though.

[gottimd]

I just write a few sentences down on a piece of paper and send it to people by regular mail.

[Mr. Wednesday]

gaim.exe is a bit over 5,000 Kb at the moment. That's with only an AIM account open.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Thanks. I've downloaded and installed Miranda.

Not sure what I do with it now though. There's this little window open that says Miranda at the top. No matter how hard I stare at it, it doesn't do anything.

I'm guessing I have to create an account with some of the other services like AOL or ICQ, and then I can get my messages through them via Miranda?

[daedalus]

Since Trillian has upgraded to the new spiffy version, it is now more bloated than Roseanne attempting to sing a National Anthem. When you have an old piece of crap computer as I do, it sucks dead donkey's broken left 'nad. It takes, quite literally, approximately 30 seconds to bring up the screen. This sounds trivial, I know, but when you're sitting there just waiting for the damn IM list to come up? It's irritating. Not to mention the fact that I just can't seem to remove the "away" message I set four scores and three eons ago. Yeah.

I tried GAIM but it didn't like me for some reason. Maybe I'll try it again later.

I will try Miranda as this is the first I've heard of it.

[jeff061]

Trillian Pro, with aim, icq, msn, yahoo, jabber and plugins(system monitor, gmail, rss, irc,weather) takes up all of 6 meg with me. So i'm not sure what's going on there, and takes 1 or less a second to bring up.

Maybe switch the the Minimal skin? They all suck but that one.

[PackerFanatic]

*Thumbs up to Trillian*

[daedalus]

I don't have any plugins on and it's sluggish as all that.

I will try the Minimal setting. Or is that a different skin I have to download?

Oh, since I've got Trillian-knowledgable folks here:

1) How do I get the gosh durned thing to STOP checking my email? Don't care, don't need, don't want. Thankee.

2) How do I get rid of my gosh durned "away" status thingie? I had it on something like 2 months ago and the thing won't leave. Like the rash that . . . well, that's a different thread, altogether.

Thanks, y'all. :)

[jeff061]

Minimal is built in.

1: Just go to the configuration for whatever IM account is doing this, misc tab and uncheck alert me when new mail arrives. Goto view and uncheck my mail accounts so you can't even see it.
2: Goto Preferences - Away Mode, and do what you want to do.

[PackerFanatic]

You probably will want to make it so Trillian doesn't remember your status, too, which is why you are still away more than likely.

[Emiliano]

I use Trillian.

[sterlingice]

Since Trillian has upgraded to the new spiffy version, it is now more bloated than Roseanne attempting to sing a National Anthem. When you have an old piece of crap computer as I do, it sucks dead donkey's broken left 'nad.
Daed, tell us how you really feel :p

SI

[daedalus]

Minimal is built in.

1: Just go to the configuration for whatever IM account is doing this, misc tab and uncheck alert me when new mail arrives. Goto view and uncheck my mail accounts so you can't even see it.
2: Goto Preferences - Away Mode, and do what you want to do.1: Awesome! Between your two suggestions (Minimal and Don't check email), it's far more tolerable now! Still takes forever and a day to bring up a window but I can live with just THAT. Hoorah! And mucho danke. :) :) :)

2: Tried that but has done nothing for me. Going to do what PackerFanatic suggest below and see if that helps.You probably will want to make it so Trillian doesn't remember your status, too, which is why you are still away more than likely.Will try this. Yay! :)

[daedalus]

Since Trillian has upgraded to the new spiffy version, it is now more bloated than Roseanne attempting to sing a National Anthem. When you have an old piece of crap computer as I do, it sucks dead donkey's broken left 'nad.Daed, tell us how you really feel :p

SII'm just a shy and reserved fellow like that. :D

[Actually, as SackAttack can verify, my online persona is quite the same as my in-person one. Both are irritating.]