I use AOL Instant Messenger which is okay except for all the ads on the new versions. They REALLY bug me. I like iChat the best except I can't get it on Dell. What do you use?

Perhaps should have had a choice for "other" because I use Trillian and Gaim...which I'm sure you know are multi-platform programs alllowing you to connect to AIM, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and IRC.

I think the standalone programs are much too laden with junk no one really needs.

I feel google is the best now a days , what are the doing man really overtaking all the best features available for net communication and binding all in one , I also prefer Skype for instant messaging and audio chat , voice clarity is much better than yahoo

I still use msn, and now google talk too. I took my msn apart though to customize it, (eg: remove the adds, modify all the string tables, and get rid of that word says after every entry)
The icons are just as easily change, though the animations gave me some trouble

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</Dream In Code>
-William. § (marvin_gohan)

For me it would be Trillian or Adium... that's all I need basically. It's interesting to see that both of these aren't in the list. Whevener I'm on windows I tend to use Trillian because I have lots of friends that prefer different kinds of IM services (mainly MSN though). Plus, I love it that Trillian doesn't have any ads and it's completely customizable and light weight.
On the Mac, Adium is probably the best, because it supports all protocols and along with that looks cool, and if you don't like the way it looks you can change it in an instant, which is the best part. So if you really love the iChat style you can get that style too... and there are some other cool ones out there that are just awesome.

i was introduced to msn by a mate and have never looked back
is there any difference between th programs?

I use Trillian, but the option is not there above. It allows me to use MSN, AIM, YAHOO, ICQ, JABBER and lots more, so it's all i want.

i use yahoo...i'm just used to it...and it's what most of my family and friends use...

I never heard of iChat. I used to use Yahoo! at work but I do not work there anymore. I have a hot mail account and use msn myself.

i mostly use yahoo for keeping in touch with friends and families.but i dont like the chat rooms in yahoo. can anyone suggest a messenger which has good chat rooms