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Alternative messenger programs

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Old 13-08-2009, 9:50 AM   #1
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Alternative messenger programs

Hi

I need a messenger service like MSN and Yahoo Messenger to be able to do my job. Unfortunately the way our website blockers work here we can't log into MSN so to for simplicity, rather than find out why it isn't working we have been using Pidgin...it is rubbish, keeps crashing etc.

Is there another alternative which will work a bit better and allow me to speak to clients who are using MSN and Yahoo messenger?

Thanks.
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Old 13-08-2009, 9:55 AM   #2
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

You could try Trillian.

http://www.trillian.im/
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:00 AM   #3
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Digsby?
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:02 AM   #4
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Surely if you need it for you job you can get your network administrator to grant MSN privileges to run?

If not try Trillian, it's IMO the best allround solution.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:10 AM   #5
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccz View Post
Surely if you need it for you job you can get your network administrator to grant MSN privileges to run?

If not try Trillian, it's IMO the best allround solution.
I don't think it is the network administrator whichi s at fault...the "thing" they use to block certain websites during work time (BBC Sport, Twitter, Facebook etc) blocks MSN but in a funny way which they cannot work out why it happens and they don't have the time to sort it out, otherwise we could use MSN.

It was quicker for them to install Pidgin but it has turned out to be useless, need something more stable...for example this morning Pidgin randomly decided that there was something wrong with all of my 600 or so contacts and opened a window for each of them to tell me the problem??? My computer was not happy and sounded like a jet engine for 30 minutes!
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:13 AM   #6
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decadence View Post
I don't think it is the network administrator whichi s at fault...the "thing" they use to block certain websites during work time (BBC Sport, Twitter, Facebook etc) blocks MSN but in a funny way which they cannot work out why it happens and they don't have the time to sort it out, otherwise we could use MSN.

It was quicker for them to install Pidgin but it has turned out to be useless, need something more stable...for example this morning Pidgin randomly decided that there was something wrong with all of my 600 or so contacts and opened a window for each of them to tell me the problem??? My computer was not happy and sounded like a jet engine for 30 minutes!
...and they're being paid for this laziness, wow and I thought my job was lax

Personally I think the network admin is at fault for not knowing how to use the system they have running, it's stopping you from using something you need for work, and the whole point of having someone there in charge of all this is to ensure everything runs smooth and safe.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:17 AM   #7
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccz View Post
...and they're being paid for this laziness, wow and I thought my job was lax

Personally I think the network admin is at fault for not knowing how to use the system they have running, it's stopping you from using something you need for work, and the whole point of having someone there in charge of all this is to ensure everything runs smooth and safe.
In their defence they are really busy with a lot of other stuff but yeah, I see what you're saying.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:26 AM   #8
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt W View Post
Digsby?
Digsby was pretty good, before it changed. Now it's loaded with crapware, malware, and general badware.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:38 AM   #9
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

I'd second Trillian. I've used it for years in place of MSN/Yahoo/AIM because it's so much faster, neater and more streamlined. I have four accounts currently running in the same instance of Trillian.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:57 AM   #10
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

I use Skype
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Old 13-08-2009, 11:07 AM   #11
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

I use Trillian on my U3 pendrive. Nice little App.
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Old 13-08-2009, 12:03 PM   #12
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Lightbulb Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decadence View Post
Hi

I need a messenger service like MSN and Yahoo Messenger to be able to do my job. Unfortunately the way our website blockers work here we can't log into MSN so to for simplicity, rather than find out why it isn't working we have been using Pidgin...it is rubbish, keeps crashing etc.

Is there another alternative which will work a bit better and allow me to speak to clients who are using MSN and Yahoo messenger?

Thanks.
Why not just use MSN Web Messenger, as that just runs on an http browser?

Windows Live Hotmail
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Old 13-08-2009, 12:35 PM   #13
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Azzin View Post
Why not just use MSN Web Messenger, as that just runs on an http browser?

Windows Live Hotmail
Thanks, that site gets blocked.
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Old 13-08-2009, 12:37 PM   #14
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

What about webmessenger.msn.com?
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Old 13-08-2009, 12:37 PM   #15
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Googletalk.
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Old 13-08-2009, 1:02 PM   #16
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earthworm Jim View Post
Googletalk.
Will that work? How do I log into that and import my hundreds of contacts? The person at the other end of the conversation will be using MSN...will it link up like that?
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Old 13-08-2009, 4:45 PM   #17
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Another vote for Trillian here too.

Been using it for years, and it's just really easy & very handy if you have contacts who use different IM clients.
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Old 13-08-2009, 5:59 PM   #18
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decadence View Post
In their defence they are really busy with a lot of other stuff but yeah, I see what you're saying.
Busy as they are, it's either an incredibly bad appliance/piece of software if they can't work it out, or they're useless... I could hazard a guess at which, and I bet i'd be right based on the number of completely inept System Admins I come across

Another vote for Trillian here
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Old 13-08-2009, 6:03 PM   #19
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

This is true - there should be a whitelist somewhere to allow the msn webapge until they work out the ports to open.
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Old 13-08-2009, 6:12 PM   #20
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Meebo used to work well for me.
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Old 13-08-2009, 10:29 PM   #21
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Re: Alternative messenger programs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Singh400 View Post
Digsby was pretty good, before it changed. Now it's loaded with crapware, malware, and general badware.
Ah didn't realise, won't be updating then (don't think I've used it in about 6-9 months), in fact I shall be removing.
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