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E-mail, chat, & VoIP : IM basics know how ?
IM basics know how ?
by gswarrior - 2/17/09 1:05 PMI have Vista premium home edition. I am thinking about getting an instant messenger but know idea what to look for. I went on the internet and only found a few items like you can get a virus and it IM can conflict with some programs. With e mail I know if you open an attachment you can get infected but how so with IM? I want to know what I am supposed to do and not do before I download it. If I don't like IM can I uninstall and will it return me to the point right before I downloaded it? Which IM should I go with? What are the pros and cons of each? It seems like there should be more information about IM. I went to the library and there were no books dealing with IM. I'm not even sure what IM does and if I want it. Thanks for any help anyone will give this novice.
Sincerely,
GSWARRIOR
About IM's
by bowacl - 2/20/09 7:58 PM In reply to: IM basics know how ? by gswarriorThere are three major Instant Messengers, there are more but these are the main ones, Yahoo, MSN and AIM. Instant messaging is where you start up your IM program and keep a list of your buddies online in it, these would be people you know that use the same IM program.
Instant messaging is like email but in real time where you can text back and forth with someone, depending on your computer and set up you can also talk and video back and forth but mainly they are designed for texting back and forth. For instance say you know some people who are on AOL or AIM, you would get their screen names, download AIM from AIM.com and install it on your computer and then add their screen names into your buddy list, from then on you would be able to see when they are online and you would be able to text back and forth with them, in turn they will also be able to see when you are online. You seem to be aware of how not to get a virus with email and it's about the same rules with IMing.
If you do not like the program you can uninstall it. The only thing I would recommend is go through the installation screen by screen and make sure you un-select all the other programs the IM may want to install such as tool bars, converting your home page to theirs - things like this, if you do not select these during install it will make going back to your original state easier.
I mainly use AIM because years ago I started my group on AOL because the dial up number was a local one and they were completely new to online and it was the easiest way for me to get them started on it. I have also never had any of my group get a virus while staying with in the AOL software while online, AOL like other main email providers also virus checks all emails so chances of them getting a virus from email was slim also. Currently most of my group is still using AOL version 9 of different flavors even tho they now have broadband they are comfortable with AOL and don't see the need to open up a browser, an Instant Messenger and email program when all they have to do is start up AOL. The only draw back I see over time with AOL is way to many ads to wade through. Although AOL has many bashers for me and my group who mainly just poke around on the web, email and IM it has made it the easiest way for me to have them online and now with broadband use it's free.
I would have to say they don't have any pros or cons since basically they all do the same thing, the pro would be to pick one that you may have other people you know on so you will have someone to communicate with.
I hope I have helped, if you need any more just post the questions here.
More on Window Live
by paul_saute - 2/21/09 6:53 AM In reply to: About IM's by bowaclI forgot to mention that what I like the best about WL messenger is the video call. What I like the least is the fact that strangers are always trying to become your 'friend'.
Instant messanger -
by paul_saute - 2/21/09 6:45 AM In reply to: IM basics know how ? by gswarriorHere's the one I use, and you can get Windows Live Messenger and a few other options.
The 'advantage' is that MS supports it, the 'disadvantage' is that it from MS.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ba346005-45f6-4d14-a7dc-51e13d11a950&displaylang=en
Cut and paste the entire link tou your browser.
Overview
Windows Live Mail is a desktop application that lets you access multiple e-mail accounts in one place—even Yahoo! Premium and Gmail accounts. Search for messages across multiple accounts. Drag, drop, and organize your mail with one click. Preview messages in the Reading Pane. Get powerful virus scanning and cleaning. Block suspicious messages and destroy junk e-mail with a single click. Help protect your e-mail accounts from harmful phishing scams. Create and edit photo e-mails in a snap.
Here's what you need:
System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP Service Pack 2
Minimum 800 MHz processor
Minimum 128 MB of RAM (256 MB or more recommended)
Up to 50 MB of hard disk space for installation, 15 MB to run the program
Windows Internet Explorer 6 SP1 or later
Internet functionality requires dial-up or broadband Internet access (provided separately). Local or long-distance charges may apply.
Minimum 800 x 600 screen resolution (1024 x 768 or larger recommended)
IM
by gswarrior - 2/21/09 10:15 AM In reply to: IM basics know how ? by gswarriorThanks very much for both replies.
Why not get Trillian
by skycatcher - 2/21/09 10:24 AM In reply to: IM basics know how ? by gswarriorTrillian ( get it from download.com ) deals with IRC, AIM, ICQ, MSM and YAHOO.
I even managed to set it up myself so it must be simple to use.
Pidgin
by armedwithjello - 2/21/09 4:10 PM In reply to: Why not get Trillian by skycatcherI used Trillian for quite a long time (~2 years), but found it was very buggy (even the paid version) and ate memory like a hog.
Then I found GAIM, which later changed its name to Pidgin. It works. It's simple, lightweight, and connects to all the various IM systems. It doesn't eat up my memory as long as I leave emoticons turned off.
www.pidgin.im
IM basics know how?
by RonS [WINDOWS-TEAM]
- 2/26/09 4:12 PM
In reply to: IM basics know how ? by gswarrior
Hi GSWARRIOR,
IM is probably one of the tools that people in business use most, but think about the least. It’s important to have that instant, reliable access to your colleagues. Because of that, many people gravitate to those programs that have been around for some time.
Microsoft’s Messenger (now Windows Live Messenger) has been tried and tested for years and is widely used. I suggest that you take it for a test drive and find out if it’s right for you.
Visit http://download.live.com/messenger to download the Windows Live Messenger, and other Windows Live programs.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Ron Windows Outreach Team
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