Microsoft's updated IM client reflects the company's rebranding of its many free tools with the Windows Live label. The new MSN Messenger is now called Windows Live Messenger. While largely the same as its predecessor, Windows Live Messenger is unique for allowing you to share folders and files locally with fellow users. It also serves up the usual animated emoticons, winks, and buzzes, along with multiplayer gaming, free PC-to-PC calling, mobile phone messaging, and video chatting. Plus it adds VoIP capabilities that allow you to call telephones around the world for a fee. One major omission, though, is the ability to receive inbound calls from landlines or mobile phones, a service that Yahoo Messenger with Voice offers. Overall, we recommend Windows Live Messenger's video chat over other IM tools'. You can access this app at get.live.com/messenger/overview.
This 14MB download took just a few minutes in our tests, though we had to proceed with care to prevent Windows Live Messenger from installing unwanted items, such as a desktop shortcut or Rhapsody music software. Once installed, Windows Live Messenger displays a drop-down menu of features along the top, contacts within the centre pane, a search box on the bottom, and tabs for eBay, Rhapsody, and other services along the left. Microsoft fans will like the integration with MSN Spaces and the company's other properties. However, we wish we could hide the animated panel of ads at the bottom.
The chat window is customisable, so you can pick a colour scheme or choose from themes and paid avatars, most of which cater to kids and tweens. If you don't need the graphics bells and whistles of this tool and those of the similar Yahoo Messenger with Voice or AIM, we recommend the bare-bones Google Talk.
We like Windows Live Messenger's Sharing Folders feature, which sets it apart from competitors by allowing you to transfer files to and from your buddy's computer by displaying a mirror of each others' files on your desktops. With security precautions in mind, Microsoft includes a free file scanner to check Sharing Folders for viruses and other potential threats. You can drag and drop all kinds of files into the chat window, which synchronises with the mirror window viewed by your buddy, and view a log of activity. Another welcome change is Windows Live Messenger's ability to store up to 600 contacts, integrated with those from your Windows Live Mail beta account. Windows Live Contacts will notify you when a contact updates his or her details.
With a Webcam installed, you can make video chats with a full 640x480-pixel screen. You can use any Webcam or pick a Microsoft LifeCam with controls tailored to Windows Live Messenger. We found the image quality to be better than that of other IM clients, though we still suffered an image and audio lag of a second or two. With a headset you can talk to Windows Live Messenger buddies via voice for free. If you plan to rely on Messenger as a Net phone, you can also buy a compatible headset to sign in and out without using your PC. However, the inability to accept inbound calls limits Windows Live's usefulness.
Microsoft provides FAQs and a searchable and detailed online knowledge base. You can ask additional questions via a Web-based e-mail form.
Although Yahoo Messenger with Voice and other VoIP tools offer more options for phone service, only Windows Live Messenger sets up a secure environment for sharing and synchronising all kinds of files. While Messenger may not serve as the ultimate communications hub, it's a solid, fun multimedia chatting tool and an improvement over the earlier version.
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james
09/10/2008, 11:18 PM
rating
8/10
awsome design
Pros: sleek design and works with my webcam
Cons: it has a few glitches with playing a game with someone
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ybongie@hotmail.com
29/08/2008, 09:43 PM
rating
7/10
am writing an article on windows live messenger so any tips on wat to include
Pros: its very handy
Cons: i can not find much detail on security
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kaka
04/07/2008, 02:02 PM
rating
10/10
EEEEvesome !!!
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Judy Burns
20/03/2008, 01:01 PM
rating
5/10
I've been going around in circles, trying to find someone to send to for help. For some reason, I cannot FORWARD emails from my live account. I used to be able to! Can you help?
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pirate1935
12/02/2008, 02:16 PM
rating
4/10
Too much of a lag in voice and vid
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zaqaz
13/01/2008, 07:23 AM
rating
2/10
Looks like I'm really not the only one to deal with WLM that always disconnect itself for no reason.
Pros: There isn't for me at least.
Cons: It always disconnect itself for no reason so it's impossible to chat or share files. Looked on google and many people got the same problem and I found no solution whatsoever to fix that.:, my pc, modem, firewall are all ok,etc. SUCKS
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Leviathan
06/11/2007, 09:09 AM
rating
2/10
turn rabbit into tortise
Pros: like Skype
Cons: this program SLOWED MY COMPUTER down to a crawl! I had to get rid of it
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cdc1982
04/10/2007, 08:52 AM
rating
3/10
Terrible new feature!! Microsoft is crap!
Pros: None
Cons: Hotmail crashes or doesn't load
Computer slow
Loading webpages takes too long, or won't load at all!
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monkey
26/08/2007, 07:40 PM
rating
5/10
havin a bit of an issue with it at the moment. cant play any games with friends as their end wont load keeps either stayin on a blank page or says active x object missin please verify...... but doesnt say how too
Pros: awesome content, great how u can now chat with ppl that arent on hotmail, etc etc
Cons: cant play games, cant decide if u want to recieve a file from friend even if it may be unsafe, even tho u know its not but u still say yes to recieve it
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mich
26/07/2007, 09:37 AM
rating
3/10
I hate the fact that it was automatically put on my computer with no explanation that it was replacing MSN Messenger.
Pros: None
Cons: Since having Windows Live Messenger, when I write emails MSN crashes with error message constantly losing ALL my email information because you cannot save the email either. Tech support said their is a problem with reading memory. I only had this problem since Live Messenger. I uninstalled and went back to old version.
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