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General discussion

Please Help with Instant Messaging

Jan 27, 2005 1:26PM PST

Hi,

(1) I know nothing about Instant Messaging and need a tutorial on it. Can somebody please point me to an URL that would help me understand what is it and how do I use it?

(2) Also which software and service would be easy to learn & get started? ( Can you Please give me an URL to download it too.?)

(3) What are the Pros & Cons of Instant Messaging?

Thank You in Advance.

Regards,
Calvin

Discussion is locked

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Re: instant messaging
Jan 27, 2005 7:45PM PST

The idea of instant messaging is that you 'talk', so to say, with friends. That can be done via the keyboard (send short messages) and/or with a microphone and a webcam.

Not all programs are compatible. So the best thing to do is to start with your friends. They can tell you what program they use, and they can show you how it works. Then you simply download the same program as they have and start communicating.
It doesn't make much sense to have a messaging program all alone. That's the reason for the above advice.

Here in Holland, all teenagers use MSN Messenger (download from www.msn.com). But I think elsewhere ICQ is being used more frequently. There are some interconnection services, but it's always best to use the same program as your friends.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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We use AIM
Jan 27, 2005 9:47PM PST

it's free from http://www.aol.com and you don't have to use AOL as your ISP to get and use it.

You have to register a username and password to set it up and if the name is already being used, you have to choose another, but it goes up quickly.

Precautions....immediately as the program opens up, click My Preferences/Edit My Preferences and get into all of the tabs/areas and make sure you have stopped people not on your buddy list from contacting you, stop all file sharing (you can always choose to accept or send a file later on to somebody on your buddy list), set it to use your virus program to scan any files immediately after they arrive automatically, etc.

You can email your friends and find out if they have AIM and if they have a buddy name that you can then add to your list. This saves you from having somebody contacting you with some obscure username that you don't know, and having to accept the message when you don't know who it is yet. If you know your 'buddys' ahead of time, you will recognize their names when they send you a message and can add them to the list immediately if they aren't already there. Give your friends the same courtesy by giving them YOUR buddy name so if you send them a message they know it's you right away.

TONI

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In addition to the other suggestions
Jan 27, 2005 10:54PM PST

regardless of whichever one you choose, besides Toni's advice of scanning any files with an AV, there have many reports of phishing attempts using ALL the IM programs, just as there are in e-mails so please NEVER click on anything, regardless of how legitimate it looks unless you are SURE you know what it is and who it is from.

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Very nice IM utility called Trillian
Jan 28, 2005 2:42AM PST

Trillian will combine all your IM accounts into one easy consistent interface. I've used the free version for years and love it.
http://www.ceruleanstudios.com
Invariably you will end up with multiple IM accounts from various providers and trillian allows you to chat with all of them at once with only one application.
Also, I reiterate the warnings, Be super carefull, there is a lot of evil in the world. Any time something is appealing to your strongest emotions be very suspicious!!