Maybe some age-old questions about IM progs!

[Andvari]

I've tried them all, and I've even tried the ones that combine them all together like Trillian and GAIM (the only two I still have on my computer). But for whatever reasons I'm tired of them and would like to go back to the original separate clients.

It's gotten to the point now that I've heard they are all riddled with spyware, but I don't know where the truth stops and the rumors begin. So some questions:

Does AIM 5.2.3292 (the latest version of 5.2) have any spyware in it? If I recall correctly, AIM didn't have any spyware until they started adding Wild Tangent in their 5.5 versions. I *think* the Viewpoint Media Player that came with the AIM 5.2's was considered spyware by some, but I heard it's pretty "minor."

I never followed the MSN and Yahoo Messengers much. Do the newest versions have spyware in them? If so, what older version should I get?

Also how about ICQ? Is there *any* version of it that doesn't have spyware?

 

[MrChad]

Even with the latest versions of AIM, as long as you elect NOT to install the "AOL Games" and "AOL Weather" option, you won't get any spyware installed. The only annoyance I have with AOL's install is that it dumps AOL icons in your Favorites, Start Menu and Desktop without your consent.

MSN Messenger isn't necessary if you have XP (just use the Windows Messenger built-in). I like it quite a bit -- it's a clean interface with very little bloat. Not too much in the way of features, but as a basic IM client it works well. No spyware installed with MSN 6.2 (the latest version).

Can't comment on ICQ or Yahoo.

 

[duragezic]

The simplest AND BEST solution to all of your troubles: Miranda.

I believe with the newer releases there is support for MSN, AIM, Jabber, ICQ, and others (all at once too), although I personally only use ICQ. It really deserves way way more mention than it gets. It's a very small program, no excess garbage, and lots of neat plugins.

edit: And of course no spyware. I would never ever consider using a program that is bundled with spyware, fvck that, don't support that bs.

 

[Andvari]

I tried Miranda a while back and somethin about it turned me off, I forget what. I'm just straying away from these multi-client programs because, while they are convenient, some of the functions just don't work as well as they do on the original programs. I use file sharing a lot, for example, including the "Get File" funtion of AIM. Another thing I have a problem with is buddy list management, namely on Trillian. I mean I delete a buddy and then it comes back next time I sign on. I delete the buddies.xml file and then it reloads them from the server, but if I sign on with another name at the same time it merges the buddies and then I get unwanted buddies on each list and I have to repeat the process. Heh.

 

[duragezic]

Oh. Yeah I remember some earlier clients not having the features of the real deal, but with Miranda I have yet to find something that the regular ICQ is better for, well actually Mirabilis ICQ was a POS after ver 98a anyway. I can send messages, URLs, contacts, and files. Nothing is broken. I don't exactly see what else I'd need. The plugins are mad cool too (WhoIsReadingMyStatusMsg owns you!!).

I don't know about AIM support since I only use ICQ, but if you havent used Miranda in a while maybe give the newest version a whirl. There are a lot of plugins too, maybe some of the AIM features could be had through the use of a plugin.

As far as buddy list managment, for ICQ, you can simply disable the server-side contact lists. I always disabled them myself. But again, I'm not sure if there is the same options for AIM, MSN, etc...