Better Than All The Rest (Microsoft MSN Messenger Service)

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Product:	Microsoft MSN Messenger Service
Date:	14/06/01 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy To Use, Good Features

Disadvantages: No Resume Function on File Transfers

I've had MSN messenger since it first came out about two-three years ago now. And, in my opinion it has grown to become the best messenger service available right now.

It all started off as a fairly simple, straight-forward messenging service, with limited features, basically it was just chat to your friends online, and find out if a new e-mail message has arrived.

Now though it has lots of added features, Voice Chat, Sending/Recieving files, Net2Phone to name just a few.

It has a relatively small download size, so it will not take long to download, and once you are past the easy install, you are ready to get started. First of all you have to make sure you have an MSN passport. If you already have a hotmail address, then you will already have an MSN passport, if not, then you can easily sign up for one free, on the MSN website.

Once you have signed in, you can now start adding people to your list. You have a choice of adding them via e-mail address (if you already know the person's e-mail address) or searching for them under the user directory. All in all, your contacts are added simply, with a few clicks of the mouse button.

To chat to someone you simply double click on their name and type your message, and it comes up in a seperate window, its all very easy, and straight forward.

It has all the features of a standard instant messenging service, and you can also invite people into your existing conversation, so you can have a little group chat. You can send and recieve files, easily, and quickly (depending on the size of the file) although there is no resume function on the file sending feature :( Meaning that if you get disconnected whilst you are recieving a big file from someone, you have to start it all over again! This is a feature I feel Microsoft can improve on.

Other than that, you can activate voice chat, if you have microphone and talk to your buddies instead of typing, or do bo
th if you're that way inclined.

You can choose from any font that is on your computer for your text, and a few colors, although there is no custom color selection just yet (Another small feature that I feel could be added by Microsoft)

You can call people's phones straight from your computer, using Net2Phone software which is integrated within MSN messenger.

And of course, you have a direct link to your E-mail Inbox provided you have a hotmail account as this feature does not work with other accounts.

If there is one disadvantage it has from the early versions of it, its that it sometimes takes a while to connect, sometimes up to a minute, whereas it use to connect instantly. But, having said that, its only a small amount of time to wait, and its a great messenger program, so its worth it.

Overall, I feel, the best messenger service of the bunch.

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