It's a different kind of Microsoft product (Microsoft MSN Messenger Service)

Member Name: nlee

Product:	Microsoft MSN Messenger Service
Date:	14/01/02 (240 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: User-Friendly, Contacts saved by server, Plenty of third party programs for it

Disadvantages: Can only meet with people you already know, Occasional server problems, May be prone to viruses

Admittedly, I would not call myself a qualified Instant Messenger program tester as I have tried a minimalistic amount of different Instant Messaging (or IM) programs.

THE PROBLEM
The first IM program I used was ICQ. The program itself has many different functions but I found myself having to restart my computer every time I ran it, possibly because of bugs or other such problems. The Netdetect agent that came with the program was a constant annoyance as it attempts to connect to the ICQ server as soon as an internet connection has been established. Contacts in your list are not stored on the server so if you want to access your ICQ account from a different computer, the contacts will have to be manually typed in; a most boring and tedious task. After all my misfortunes, I went in search of another IM, and came across MSN Messenger...

THE SOLUTION
At first, through all the hype of Microsoft and the popularity of MSN messenger, I was sceptical. Usually, the most popular programs are hit by viruses that attempt to crash or damage your computer in some form but up til now, I have had virtually no problems with running the program. Users must first obtain a hotmail account or microsoft passport to use the system. After that, a small download and installation is required after which, you are ready to go and chat instantly with friends and family. The latest version, 4.6, is a great improvement from previous versions. The windows are in the style of Microsoft XP and the interface is very user friendly, as would be expected by Microsoft. Contacts can be arranged by Online/Offline status or by user-defined groups. The font can be changed to whatever style or colour and alerts can be customized, signalling when contacts appear online and when you receive an e-mail. Files can also be transferred between people over a conversation dialogue window.

The best thing about MSN messenger is that only people who you know can be added in, unlike IC
Q. This decreases the amount of spam messages that someone can receive but also eliminates the chances of meeting new people over the internet. This issue can be resolved simply by visiting an MSN chat room. All of the contacts you add to the program are stored by the MSN server so that if you want to access the program over a different computer, there is no longer the hassle of having to manually add everyone to your list.

Various programs, not made by Microsoft, are also available for MSN messenger, such as Plus! which automatically logs your conversations and eliminates the advertising banner at the bottom of the program. There are also programs available that allow you to hear the messages that you receive being spoken out to you using electronic voice. Occasionally, the MSN server will be down, blocking access to your account but this happens very seldomly and Microsoft seems to have their problems fixed.

Overall, I feel that MSN Messenger is definately worth considering if you want to go for an IM program. However, if you already have lots of different IM programs, some other programs are available for you to download that allows you to access all of your accounts through one seperate log in (such as Trillian).

Summary: