Instant Messenger service

[sobrique]

Tell me oh internet.
Which of the instant messenger networks is least terrible these days?

I know stuff like facebook and google have them like, built into web pages, but I'm ... less sure there actually much cop. Not least because of their binary-state-ness of either being online, or offline. I'd like something that lets me be a bit more selective. Preferably something that'll still deliver messages whilst offline, which ISTR once upon a time, MSN didn't. Have used MSN, ICQ in the past, and probably still have login details.

Does anyone still use these things?

Comments

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's the one. ICQ used to have the option to be 'invisible to most people' which I kinda liked. But I'll settle for a 'not here really, apart from the people I'm specifically chatting to'

[ammos.livejournal.com]

MSN also has an appear offline yet you can send messages to people you want to talk to!I have msn used to have ICQ still have the google one but few people I know use it.

[erjholton.livejournal.com]

MSN seems to be the most functional out of the "Big three" of MSN, Yahoo! and AOL. ICQ is a niche player these days.

Or you could install Pidgin or Trillian and use all of 'em, which is what I've done as my friends have fragmented over the various networks over time.

[malal.livejournal.com]

This.

Basically, the main deciding point is "What network are the people you want to talk to using?". Cheating by being on all of them is Win.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly thinking from the point of view of introducing someone new to it. I can use ... whatever, but I'd imagine some are better choices for new users than others :)

[mcnazgul.livejournal.com]

As someone who's currently out of patience with IM, I'll still endorse Pidgin as easy to use and able to talk cross-platform.

[fearmeforiampink]

Do they have other friends on a particular messenger? Then that one.

In my experience, messengers are much of a muchness, but ATM none of them is managing sufficient market dominance to have everyone. So, multimessengers, or wherever the most friends are.

[phyrbyrd.livejournal.com]

I use AIM. I DID use MSN, but then most of the people I was talking to transferred to AIM so it became a bit of a moot point.
Also, MSN opens a new window for each person you're talking to, which I consider a Bad Thing.

[xarrion.livejournal.com]

I'm on 'em all via Trillian, but my personal preference has always been Yahoo (for service, not client), due to having invisible mode + offline messaging from the get-go. IIRC MSN doesn't/didn't allow you to send messages to someone if they weren't visible to you.

[erjholton.livejournal.com]

It does these days.