Integrated Messengers

[BigJonno]

After a long time of not using any kind of message software, I've started using both Windows Live MSN Messenger Whatever They're Calling It Now and AIM. Can anyone recommend a good integrated messenger so I can cut down on clutter?

[TrackZero]

Pidgin. (http://www.pidgin.im) 'nuff said.

(And anyone who tells you Digsby is drinking the kool-aid.)

[BigJonno]

Thanks, Track! I'll give it a shot and not listen to any Kool-Aid drinking mofos.

[Goronmon]

http://www.meebo.com/

Another alternative, no client to download and they even have mobile apps.

[hunterx280]

Pidgin. (http://www.pidgin.im) 'nuff said.

(And anyone who tells you Digsby is drinking the kool-aid.)

Agreed. You can do just about anything with Pidgin.

[Wally]

Another vote for Pidgin over Digsby

[The Continental]

I use the GMail built it, but I'll throw in for Trillian just for nostalgia's sake. Trillian also has support for Facebook chat which I don't think Pidgin does.

[iHap]

Pidgin on my Computer and Meebo on my iPhone.

@The Continental There is a Facebook plugin that lets you use the Facebook chat for Pidgin.

[Handmade.Mercury]

I use the GMail built it, but I'll throw in for Trillian just for nostalgia's sake. Trillian also has support for Facebook chat which I don't think Pidgin does.

I used to love Trillian, and am still using it right now, actually. Their interface has turned into complete crap, though. I'll try Pidgin tomorrow. I remember having it when I dual-booted XP and Linux, but wasn't into the whole IM thing back then.

EDIT: Ended up trying it right now. A lot smoother. Made the switch.

[Mr. Murphy]

I use Pidgin every day. I like the plugins, especially Off The Record messaging, for encrypted conversations.

[roboninja]

I use Pidgin every day. I like the plugins, especially Off The Record messaging, for encrypted conversations.

Google chat also has an Off the Record feature now. That is all I use, but obviously it does not work across protocols like Pidgin does.

[jeffbax]

Pidgin (alternatively Miranda IM) for Windows and Linux, Adium for Mac.

[Mr. Murphy]

Google chat also has an Off the Record feature now. That is all I use, but obviously it does not work across protocols like Pidgin does.

Hmm, intersting, I'll check that out. I love google and gmail and even loved wave, but I'm not sure I trust google to keep my messages off the record. They have a vested interest in gathering info, while pidgin is freeware made by disparate nerds.

[bapenguin]

I was a Digsby user until yesterday. But their intrusive ways of trying to get money went to far by adding ads to the chat windows by default.

I now use Raptr at home (love the in game chat overlays) and just GMail signed into AIM at work.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I, too, use Pidgin. It's really simple to set up.

[Karak]

Digsby.
Love it and it does what I need and does it very well.

I am interested in Ba's comment about some kind of money thing. I don't get any popups and I use it all day long. I will check the chat window tonight and see what that is about.

[Psykoboy2]

I use Adium.

[Dukefrukem]

I miss the days when Trillian reigned king... had some awesome mods for that thing. Built in winamp and IRC.

[Mot Wakorb]

I use Digsby on non-gaming machines and Pidgin on gaming machines due to Digsby having issues with skipping and full-screen detection.

[bapenguin]

Digsby.
Love it and it does what I need and does it very well.

I am interested in Ba's comment about some kind of money thing. I don't get any popups and I use it all day long. I will check the chat window tonight and see what that is about.

When you get the latest update of it - you'll see. Every chat window has banner ads on the bottom now. You can turn it off - but the simple fact that its on by default is annoying.

This is similar to something they did earlier this year where your twitter and Facebook streams would have text ads inserted into them by default - again, you can turn it off - but this kind crap needs to stop.

If they need money that bad, make a pay version. I'm all for ads in software to support developers - but the way they go about it is very sneaky.

[quidmonkey]

When you get the latest update of it - you'll see. Every chat window has banner ads on the bottom now. You can turn it off - but the simple fact that its on by default is annoying.

This is similar to something they did earlier this year where your twitter and Facebook streams would have text ads inserted into them by default - again, you can turn it off - but this kind crap needs to stop.

If they need money that bad, make a pay version. I'm all for ads in software to support developers - but the way they go about it is very sneaky.

If you read the update notes (http://blog.digsby.com/), they're up front about it and tell you how to turn it off. They even offer up their reasoning behind the change.

I like Digsby for the social networking integration. It's nice having everything in one place.

[Drayven]

Another vote for Pidgin. I've used Digsby and Trillian in the past but ended up on Pidgin.

[Bone]

I seem to switch back and forth between Trillian, Digsby, and Pidgin. Lately running Linux at work leaves me with Pidgin as the best alternative. Digsby promised a Linux version a year ago. Trillian just seems more bloated every time I use it- I also miss its heyday (about 5 years ago I think!).

[Deadend]

If you read the update notes (http://blog.digsby.com/), they're up front about it and tell you how to turn it off. They even offer up their reasoning behind the change.

I like Digsby for the social networking integration. It's nice having everything in one place.

That is the thing, most people don't read the notes. The ads are also UGLY and throw off the look of the app.

[Widgetcraft]

I used to be a Trillian fan, for probably a good decade, and recently they just went to shit. I switched over to Meebo.com and haven't looked back. It works well on my PCs as well as my phone, and does everything I need it to do (except Skype IMs, but nothing really does that except Skype). The only downside is that it does run in a browser, but I like how it keeps everything synced up well between on my devices.

[bapenguin]

If you read the update notes (http://blog.digsby.com/), they're up front about it and tell you how to turn it off. They even offer up their reasoning behind the change.

I like Digsby for the social networking integration. It's nice having everything in one place.

The platform auto updates though and those notes are never presented in front of you. The program used to run nice and trim at about ~40MB, last time I used it, it was well over 100MB - no doubt because of all the extra little things they keep putting in.

[DiBiddilyBop]

I also grew sick of the all the "upgrades" Digsby was making. I've switched over to Pidgin and although I'm not super thrilled with it yet, I'll have to see if I can make a few tweaks that will get me there.