An average Messaging service from Microsoft (Microsoft MSN Messenger Service)

Member Name: Escorcio

Product:	Microsoft MSN Messenger Service
Date:	30/09/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some great features on the Windows version (when they work)

Disadvantages: Appalling Mac version, very buggy and bad connectivity

Microsoft MSN Messenger is a great service allowing you to stay in contact with yours friends and family via text, audio or video.
The application itself is very clean (even more basic on Mac) and easily understandable no matter the user. The interface of windows is very clear with chat log, display pictures of contact and various chat options running along the top.
As for functionality MSN Messenger packs some great features on the Windows version. Not only do you get access to video and audio chat but there are also some awesome free games to play with friends. Messenger also supports multi-chats where you can invite numerous people into the same chat window (although this does become annoying when your friends think its funny to invite their whole contacts list and then spam).
Unfortunately features are where the joys of messenger end. Primarily the Mac version of Messenger is an extremely watered down version of Messenger where the most you will be doing is plain chat. Games are non-existant, Emoctions are basic without the ability for customisation and the interface itself is very bleak. It seems that Microsoft have taken a deliberate stab at Mac users by downgrading the Messenger service.
On both systems Messenger has constant problems with connectivity (continually logging me out on Mac) as well as being very buggy and prone to crashes. At the moment the only reason people really use Messenger is because it's so popular, not because it's a great service.
All in all Messenger would be a great service if they fixed out it's issues and brought the Mac version up to scratch, but at the moment it is buggy and really takes away from the enjoyment of communicating with friends, so for the mean time I'll stick with Facebook chat.

Summary: An average attempt at a messaging service which is no where near as good as it used to be

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