I only recently discovered the wonder that is MSN messenger, and now i wonder how i survived without it.

If youve never used it, its a little program which you can download for free (messenger.msn.co.uk), and which allows you to send instant messages to your 'contacts', which can be anyone with an msn or hotmail email address, provided they allow you to send them messages.

The messenger program is nicely laid out, only taking up a small amount of screen space. This box shows you a list of your contacts, and whether they are online or not, as well as showing you if you have any new emails in your inbox.

It also brings up small pop-up messages in the bottom of your screen whenever a contact signs in, or sends you a message, or when you recieve a new email. However, you can turn them off if you find them distracting.

There are a number of other added bonuses. You can send files or pictures to your contacts, send messages to their mobiles (if they set up their mobile info; doesnt take long), and even make a phone call.

I found messenger particularly useful as ive just moved out of home to live at uni, so i can really easily keep in touch with my old friends, i even have a friend who moved to the states who i talk to often.

Its also a good laugh, like when my friend and i who live next door to each other in our flat decided we couldnt be bothered to go to the kitchen for a chat, so we set up our mics and speakers and had a voice conversation from our rooms. And of course theres the ever popular 'whos got the best name' contest.

The only disadvantage i could find to talk about was the possibility of transferring viruses, however if youve got a decent security or anti-virus package this should automatically scan any instant messages for viruses. Be warned though that the use of some security devices, especially firewalls may restrict your use of some of the features, like file sharing.


However, apart from this little setback, msn messenger really is the biz, and even if you think you wont use it, give it a try. It only takes a couple of minutes to download, and it free after all, so, what have you got to lose?