Best replacement for MSN?

[Tommy Vercetti]

What would you recommend as a good replacement for MSN/Windows Live Messenger? MS ended service today and I am not too happy with Skype's IM features. Its no where near as nice as MSN. Should I get Trillian or another multi IM service that can let me sign into my Windows live account? I would rather be able to have my IM convos in there own Windows or tabs. I also do not really care about video or voice chat.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I dont know if you mean the IM client or the service itself.
Pidgin is the client I use.
http://www.pidgin.im/

If the service itself ended it wont help though. Look into Jabber, though
http://www.jabber.org/

 

[Zelig]

Probably Skype.

If you go to view->compact view, you get individual windows per chat, which makes it less awful, and you can connect it to facebook, which makes it quite useful.

 

[Souron]

There are a lot of mutli-IM services that work with windows live accounts. Try Pidgin. It's that's not to your taste, liik around.

Skype is it's own thing, with a lot of digital protection of their software, but IM protocols are public, and well known, so there are more options.

 

[Mr.WorldWide]

Although the Skype IM sucks when compared to dedicated IMs, you will find most companies use Skype IM...

 

[Quintillus]

I'd get whatever your friends use. They're probably facing the same issue if they've been using Windows Messenger, right? And what's most important in the end is being able to communicate with them.

These days, amongst services, I find Gmail's chat feature to be the most popular other than perhaps Facebook. But if your friends aren't using those, that won't help. AIM seems to be unpopular even in the USA these days.

I agree that Skype really isn't an IM-centric program. I use it for calls and stuff, but it's rare that I have an IM-centric converstaion on Skype.

I had the impression that multi IM programs wouldn't help in this case since the whole service is being shut down. Although perhaps if one of them works with Skype IM, that might be worth looking into.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

I got Trillian and so far so good I am able to use my Windows Live account on Trillan. I just can't sign in with Windows Live Messenger anymore. I hated Skype when I tried to use it.

 

[Mise]

Frankly they're all about as good as each other.

 

[sophie]

Frankly they're all about as good as each other.

I didn't realize people still used MSN/AOL-type instant messengers.

Between facebook, skype, text messaging, and IRC I haven't really found a need for one in at least 8 years.

 

[Mise]

Yeah, aside from the ones you listed, I use whatsapp on my phone and that's it.

 

[Zelig]

I didn't realize people still used MSN/AOL-type instant messengers.

Between facebook, skype, text messaging, and IRC I haven't really found a need for one in at least 8 years.

I don't see a particularly difference between MSN/AOL and Facebook/Skype.

Yeah, aside from the ones you listed, I use whatsapp on my phone and that's it.

Whatsapp is awful, don't use it and don't let your friends use it: http://fileperms.org/whatsapp-is-broken-really-broken/

 

[Mise]

I've tried, I hate it, it's awful, but once enough people use it I can't get away from it...

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Personally, I use email, Jabber (via Pidgin), and Steam chat.

 

[Mise]

Does anyone know an IM client for phones that does encrypted group chats then? One that isn't facebook, google etc I mean.

 

[sophie]

I don't see a particularly difference between MSN/AOL and Facebook/Skype.

They offer other services in addition to the IM, and people still actually use them.

 

[Maniacal]

I haven't had to change any of my MSN info in Trillian since it got merged with Sykpe and it still works fine. Not that anyone I know actually uses MSN aside from a couple of people anymore though, but it also does Facebook chat! Except almost all of my friends seem to use it on their phones now, and Trillian doesn't seem to notice the mobile Facebook yet.

 

[Zelig]

They offer other services in addition to the IM, and people still actually use them.

WLM pretty much duplicated the all the IM-like features that Facebook/Skype have (group chats, voice calls, mobile support, user profiles, etc.) Sure, the userbase has moved, but the functionality is pretty much the same.

 

[ArguCa]

probably facebook and skype.

 

[sophie]

WLM pretty much duplicated the all the IM-like features that Facebook/Skype have (group chats, voice calls, mobile support, user profiles, etc.) Sure, the userbase has moved, but the functionality is pretty much the same.

Yes..

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

The IM feature for Skype is terrible. The interface for it sucks and running multiple convos sucks. I have zero interest in video or voice chatting. That is why I hated Skype. I used it for less then an hour before I got rid of it and downloaded Trillian. Hell you are talking to the same guy who still uses AIM. I also don't own a SmartPhone, I use my cheap 20 dollar prepaid phone.