Review of GAIM instant messaging program

[misterx]

http://gaim.sourceforge.net/

GAIM is a an instant messaging client that works with many popular IM networks simultaneously. These include AIM/ICQ, Yahoo IM, MSN Messenger, IRC, GTalk, Jabber, Gadu-gadu, Groupwise, & Napster chat. If you have friends on different networks, it is great to be able to be able to message with them all from using one program. Less clutter on your screen, fewer programs eating resources. I had previously used Trillian for this (http://ceruleanstudios.com), but wasn't happy with what I considered to be bloat, and a higher than desired annoyance factor with the interface. GAIM was recommended to me by joedecker as an alternative to Trillian. I said I would post a review after using it a while, so here it is.

I should state that I am not an "advanced" user of any of the IM systems. I basically want text chat. So I can't say how well GAIM implements the more advanced features - I don't use them.

For basic text messaging however, I love it. You can configure all messaging sessions to be in one window with a tabbed interface, which is how I run it, to avoid taskbar clutter. Installation and setting up accounts is straightforward... the hardest part is remembering your username/pass for all the different networks you belong to. :) The only account setup that was tricky was Gtalk, because it actually uses the Jabber protocal, but there are instructions on how to do this here: http://www.google.com/support/talk/bin/answer.py?answer=24073 . GAIM's impact on system resources is minimal, and it takes very little space on the hard drive. It's been well-mannered and stable so far.

An additional benefit to me was that it can be configured to run off of a USB Drive. This means that if you have one of those keychain usb memory drives, you can run GAIM without installing anything on the computer you are using. All files needed are on the USB drive, and all settings and info are saved to the USB Drive. No need to install and configure it on multiple computes... once at work, once at home, for example... and you can take your IM with you whereever you go. Setting this up is a bit more technical, but if you are familiar with computers it shouldn't be a problem. Instructions here: http://gaim.sourceforge.net/win32/index.php#portable .


Overall opinion: highly recommended

Comments

[thenisaid.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. I have been looking for a replacement for the Trillium Piggy.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. I had heard of it once before, but thought it was AIM only. Finding out it could do all of them, especially Gtalk, was a nice surprise.

[ezerick.livejournal.com]

GAIM rocks. Although I had an earlier version, probably the one right before yours and it isn't the greatest if you're using advanced features like Yahoo's web cam functionality. Gaim also works with IRC, which is nice because I still use that myself.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

I don't know the status. I wonder what the release schedule for version 2.0 is.

[recompiler.livejournal.com]

Make sure you install OTR encryption!!!!

[misterx.livejournal.com]

Educate me, I don't know what it is. And do both parties need to use it?

[misterx.livejournal.com]

Nevermind, I found it. Off-the-record messaging. I'm assuming this is useless unless both sides use it though, and most of the people I chat with are not techie. (or running gaim for that matter)

[recompiler.livejournal.com]

At work and between friends many topics are off limits without it running. But in our circles we all run it on linux or windows. Keep it in mind for senesitive conversations though.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

I would use it all the time just out of principal if practical, but with no one else using it there isn't much point.

When using it, I assume you cannot chat with non-OTR clients?

[recompiler.livejournal.com]

That is the correct approach, it is called oportunistic encryption. You use it when you can and others start to use it too as they see the benefit etc. Try and get your friends to switch to GAIM. About 70% of my convos are with GAIM users and with OTR. You only see any difference when you talk to someone for the first time and do the key exchange, the rest fo the time its 100% transparent and unobtrusive.

You can still chat with non OTR clients it jsut won't be encrypted. OTR knows when to be used and when not to.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

hmm. I'll try it then.

[shirokarasu.livejournal.com]

when you have a chance could I get some help in getting lj to work with my phone? I am terrified that it will cost me a fortune trying to figure it out.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

Sure. It's just text messaging though.

Go here:
http://www.livejournal.com/manage/emailpost.bml

You'll have to know the email address of your phone. Put that in as the allowed sender address. Then create yourself a PIN.

Then send a text message to:
yourusername+yourPIN@post.livejournal.com

If you're not sure of your email address, send a text message to my gmail account and I'll tell you what the address is.

[darthgeek.livejournal.com]

I could never get GAIM to work with Google Talk. Since I can't use other IM services at work anyway, the "official" client works fine, but, I spent a good 2 days beating my head against GAIM and the instructions for getting it to work with Google Talk.

[misterx.livejournal.com]

I messed it up the first time, but when I actually followed the directions it worked.