Good Light Weight Alternative To Msn

[nails]

if your computer is slow, and / or you dont like the latest msn versions, you can use this
www.miranda-im.org - its like trillian, but opensource and heaps smaller.
also

www.easymessage.net - same sort of thing, looks like msn, but its heaps smaller , faster etc....

i highly reccomend both, although easymessage was misbehaving on my computer, so i just use miranda...

[locustfurnace]

a couple other options
There is the Java ICQ Client - go icq! very handy when not at your own computer and still want to icq someone.
http://go.icq.com/
Jabber open source and secure
http://www.jabber.org/about/overview.html?...f7d13ecf2cfc93e
Instant-T
http://www.interactiveni.com/IMSite/imfreeware.htm
Omni, (no longer developed it appears, but might still be useful)
http://www.emphatech.com/index.html
iGo Incognito, a secure IM.
http://www.igo-incognito.com/overview.html
Quicksilver Instant Messenger
http://www.qsmessage.com/
Encrypted AIM
http://www.johnytech.com/home.asp
IMCI Secure IM
http://www.imici.com/

and for Alternative OS's, BSD, Linux users there are;

Kopete, is a flexible and extendable multiple protocol instant messaging system designed as a plugin-based system.
http://kopete.kde.org/
LICQ; Licq is a multi-threaded ICQ clone written mostly in C++. It uses an extensive plugin system to manage many different functions. The main gui is written using the Qt widget set. Licq is distributed under GPL with some special QPL exceptions for Qt.
http://licq.org/
GnomeICU;
http://gnomeicu.sourceforge.net/
EB-Lite
http://www.everybuddy.com/eb-lite/

[nails]

sweet, well it looks like people have plenty of choice then eh?

[ralphi_d]

I tried some of those. But don't forget that all those IM will be blocked by Microsoft on October 15th.

Therefore, only MSN messenger (5.0 and onwards) and windows messenger (from 4.7) will be able to reach the MSN network.

I know this sucks. I'm back to ICQ...

[locustfurnace]

Originally posted by ralphi_d@Sep 4 2003, 12:12 PM
I tried some of those. But don't forget that all those IM will be blocked by Microsoft on October 15th.

Therefore, only MSN messenger (5.0 and onwards) and windows messenger (from 4.7) will be able to reach the MSN network.

I know this sucks. I'm back to ICQ...

I find this funny, because it was not to long ago, that AOL and MS has the IM wars, which AOL would block MSN from being able to communicate with AOL users. So AOL would release a new version blocking MSN, then MSN would make a new version to once again allow MSN users to access AOL.
AOL was complaining, Microsoft was saying that should be allowed to access the AOL servers and kept right on changing the protocol to allow their users access to AOL
NOW. MSN is seeing what they did to AOL and are changing their policy, funny how what MSN once did, is being done to them, so now they are asking for other client developers to pay a license fee to gain access.
I never used MSN, never have never will.
Not saying AOL with its AOL IMS and ICQ are any better in terms of greed, since it was AOL who filed for a patent claiming they invented the instant messaging idea, concept.
Which is not true since UNIX had a messenger service called TALK for many many many years before AOL had their AOL IMS and way before AOL purchased ICQ.

Might be better served using the Jabber protocol, servers and clients.

[locustfurnace]

Originally posted by ralphi_d@Sep 4 2003, 12:12 PM
I tried some of those. But don't forget that all those IM will be blocked by Microsoft on October 15th.

Therefore, only MSN messenger (5.0 and onwards) and windows messenger (from 4.7) will be able to reach the MSN network.

I know this sucks. I'm back to ICQ...

I find this funny, because it was not to long ago, that AOL and MS has the IM wars, which AOL would block MSN from being able to communicate with AOL users. So AOL would release a new version blocking MSN, then MSN would make a new version to once again allow MSN users to access AOL.
AOL was complaining, Microsoft was saying that should be allowed to access the AOL servers and kept right on changing the protocol to allow their users access to AOL
NOW. MSN is seeing what they did to AOL and are changing their policy, funny how what MSN once did, is being done to them, so now they are asking for other client developers to pay a license fee to gain access.
I never used MSN, never have never will.
Not saying AOL with its AOL IMS and ICQ are any better in terms of greed, since it was AOL who filed for a patent claiming they invented the instant messaging idea, concept.
Which is not true since UNIX had a messenger service called TALK for many many many years before AOL had their AOL IMS and way before AOL purchased ICQ.

Might be better served using the Jabber protocol, servers and clients.

[locustfurnace]

couple more Jabber clients

luna ... with animated avatars, video, bubble chat, private chat, and personal profiles through the Jabber protocol.
http://www.lluna.de/
PSI
http://psi.affinix.com/
EXODUS
http://exodus.jabberstudio.org/
Centericq - (icq,yahoo,aol,MSN, jabber)
SIM : Simple Instant Messenger
http://sim-icq.sourceforge.net/
GAIM - (icq,yahoo,aol,MSN, jabber, Gadu-Gadu, and Zephyr networks.)
http://gaim.sourceforge.net/about.php

[nails]

I tried some of those. But don't forget that all those IM will be blocked by Microsoft on October 15th.

Therefore, only MSN messenger (5.0 and onwards) and windows messenger (from 4.7) will be able to reach the MSN network.

.
actually, that's wrong. msn will be switching to msn protocol 8. miranda uses this now and so does trillian, and gaim i think, im not sure about easy message tho. it was only people's interpretation that people started sayign that trillian would be blocked. 3dr party clients will only be blocked if micorsoft does soemthign more than switch to msnp 8.

which is good to hear eh?

[nails]

at least, thats what i got told. hmm that could be wrong too tho.. you never know these days...

[locustfurnace]

Originally posted by nails@Sep 8 2003, 05:58 AM
it was only people's interpretation that people started sayign that trillian would be blocked. 3dr party clients will only be blocked if micorsoft does soemthign more than switch to msnp 8.

Unless the reporting sites are wrong, MS does plan to cut access to 3rd party clients.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/08/28/...rosoftim_1.html

Microsoft seeks cash from IM client makers
Unauthorized parties to be locked out of network

By Joris Evers, IDG News Service August 28, 2003

Microsoft Corp. is contacting providers of instant messaging (IM) software to try to cut licensing deals before it boots the clients from its MSN IM network.

Microsoft isn't targeting rival IM network operators such as America Online Inc. or Yahoo Inc., but makers of clients that use the Microsoft MSN IM network and compete with Microsoft's own MSN Messenger client.

Cerulean Studios, maker of the Trillian IM client, is at the top of Microsoft's list. Trillian allows users to consolidate multiple IM accounts in one client and is available in a free version, as well as a $25 "Pro" version that offers additional features. Trillian has been downloaded over 10 million times, according to Cerulean Studios.

"Running an (IM) network is expensive," said Lisa Gurry, group product manager for MSN at Microsoft. "We can't sustain multiple other people's businesses, particularly if they charge for certain versions of their software. We're introducing licensing processes for third parties like Trillian."

Microsoft is making changes to its network that will lock out "unlicensed or unauthorized third-party clients." The first phase of those changes is scheduled to go into effect mid-September, followed by a complete lock-out on October 15, Microsoft has said

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