Upside: This Messenger update blows away AOL and Yahoo in the videoconferencing department. Instead of squinting to see a thumbnail image of your buddy's Webcam shot, you can expand Messenger's live video images up to full-screen size. Transmission in our quick test was smooth, with a negligible split-second delay, compared with the choppy speed of rival video chat services. Messenger 7.0 makes it easy to integrate with other Microsoft Web properties; it can tell you what your pals are jamming to on Windows Media Player or iTunes, and it tips you off when friends update their MSN Spaces blogs. Installation takes a few painless minutes.
Downside: It's no surprise that Microsoft's new, free IM client drives users toward other MSN properties; tabbed promos for Match.com and other Web sites eat up the main window's left-hand column. Some will find the relentless marketing annoying, beginning with the news-packed browser window that pops up during start-up. If you enjoy lacing your messages with emoticons, be sure to befriend other Messenger users: you can't send animated winks or nudges to buddies on other IM clients, such as with the multipurpose Trillian. Still, non-Messenger users can see your profile image. You can even build your own cartoon avatar, but you'll have to pay several dollars to use it. When we sent a small GIF image to a Trillian user, his program crashed, but on the second try, he downloaded the graphic without a hitch. A Treo user was able to receive our Messenger note but couldn't reply to it.
Outlook: If you want to pair your instant messages with video and sound, MSN Messenger 7.0 is the best option yet and could cause even AIM and Yahoo IM loyalists to defect. This program's multimedia conferencing prowess could also attract business users who want to show and tell while they chat. Kids and lunching office dwellers will enjoy tinkering with the new toys. Depending on your style, you'll find the broadened selection of avatars and animated winks either cute or cloying. This IM software is definitely not for haters of Microsoft; if you prefer to deal with bare-bones text messaging, you're better off with an IM tool such as Trillian.
Download MSN Messenger 7.0 here.
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a8anatos
04/11/2008, 04:17 AM
rating
5/10
no
Pros: gkh
Cons: gjhjhjg
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barbara routledge
02/10/2008, 07:40 AM
rating
5/10
i have msm to keep in touch with friends and family i would not often see
Pros: good for quick updates and sharing photos
Cons: sometimes you are busy doing something else and friends want to talk but who cares
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Giorl
09/08/2008, 06:42 AM
rating
8/10
thank to microsoft. brand news
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Sam
16/07/2008, 08:38 PM
rating
7/10
I use msn messenger. This messenger is cool. Its appearance is very good. This messenger has software gestionale system. Which make it fast responsive.
Pros: Easy to navigate.
Watch movies or play games uninterrupted.
Cons: Activation is buggy.
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thewonder
05/06/2008, 10:21 AM
rating
7/10
sounds really cool
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kellsbelles
16/05/2008, 06:45 PM
rating
9/10
awesome, fun and super meeting place for friends!!!!!! :)
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vefol
13/05/2008, 10:29 PM
rating
10/10
MSN one! cool searche
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70-536
01/04/2008, 06:12 AM
rating
8/10
MSN 7 has great features, Yup i agree, all those features are there.
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nirosha
08/01/2008, 07:29 AM
rating
5/10
good work guys
Pros: gbjnmjuytr
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chris manuel
23/10/2007, 06:48 PM
rating
7/10
Pretty good, Tehy do make a version for macs, its at the Mactopia website. Windows Live messenger is a much better vrsion
Pros: Good, Alows free comunication. Get Windows Live MEssenger - Its better
Cons: Not A lot
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