One Thought At A Time

Any of you have multiple IM clients running on your desktop at the same time? You have friends on MSN, AIM, ICQ… whatever. I do, and so I like to use an IM application that integrates all of them in one simple interface. There are a myriad of benefits to having an application which supports multiple IM services.

I’m a Trillian user. I’ve been using it for the longest time. I know how it feels when you switch to something new. It’s unusual at first, but you get use to it and you start loving it. That is, until you find something better. So, I am looking for the best IM client available and there are several.

What I like about Trillian is its ease of use. It has an attractive interface and it is easily customizable. There are two versions: Basic and Pro. If you aren’t too picky about what features you have, go with Basic. It’s restricted, but it work. I have Pro, and I like it, but sometimes, it doesn’t work out the way I want it to. Still, I’m a loyal fan. Also, Cerulean Studios is working hard on the Trillian Astra. If you’ve not seen it, you should check it out. It looks incredible. They are working on a Mac release if you have a Mac.

Meebo is unique in that it is an in-browser program. You don’t have to download any application onto your computer at all. Just go to http://www.meebo.com/, type in your username and password and log in. It’s that simple. I’m very happy with its capabilities and features. It’s very useful when you are away from your PC and you have a computer at hand that doesn’t have an IM application.

I haven’t tried Pidgin, but it’s next on my list. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. In fact, I hear that it’s more popular than Trillian and I want to see why. It was formerly known as GAIM. You can add your own functionality and tool and that’s what I like to hear. Total control.

For Mac users, there’s Adium. The logo is a cute little ducky. It’s probably the most popular application on OS X and I can tell that it is better than iChat. I don’t have a Mac, but you can judge for yourself. Like Pidgin, it’s highly customizable. Unless I get a Mac, I won’t be testing that one, but you can tell me how it goes if you do.

Then, there’s Digsby. It’s only for Windows, but I hear the developers are working on a Mac and Linux version. It’s the newest of all of them, and it’s getting quite popular. What is unique about this one is that it integrates IM with email with social networking. I’m going to look into it and see how well it compares to the rest.

You’re welcome to test any of these to see which fits your needs. For now, I’m looking forward to the release of Trillian Astra, but I will see how the others work. Maybe I’ll find one that’s better, who knows.