Stupid question regarding Instant Messenger

[stripedbass]

Hi,

I have an iMac: 350 Mhz/OS10.3.9/80GB hard drive/516 RAM.

Every now and then someone asks me to communicate with them through Instant Messenger. But I've never done so because I did not know whether my computer would allow me.

I know this sounds like a really dumb question but do you know whether I can communicate with someone via Instant Messenger? If so, what software do I need to add to my computer?

Any feedback will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Al]

What messenger client your friend's using will determine if you can or not.

iChat will communicate with AOL and AIM.

Yahoo and Microsoft have a Mac client and I think a few others may as well.

One of our mottos here is "There are no stupid questions."  

[RHPConsult]

Which OS are you running on your iMac?

One of the "built-in" applicaitons  of OSX (any version) is iChat. It contains 3 modes of communication: text, voice, and video. To use video requires a CPU running well beyond your iMac (plus a camera), but you can surely use text, IF you have the iChat application.

Open it, and a window will appear on your desktop (the "Buddy List"). Register yourself as a wannabe iChat-ter by using either a dot/Mac account, if you have one, or an AIM account (free) . . . found at . . .AIM Account Registration here, for free

Then, get your friend's ScreenName, insert it on your Buddy List via Add a Buddy at . . .

[attachment=783:AddABudd...nu_item_.jpg]

When your friend is on-line, and on IM, his/her name will show in your BuddyList window. Click on it, and start chatting when the friend "answers".

As Al said, "No stupid questions on TeeEss", just folks with puzzles the rest of us enjoy solving, if we can.


PS: If you don't have iChat available, I think you may be able to do the whole thing via AIM. AOL used to "guard" it for its subscribers only, but a couple of bouts of litigation changed that. iChat is the "method of choice", however, if you have it.

[Gregg]

I'm sure you can respond to an instant message.

It just takes awhile to figure it out.

(I've never done it either!)

[stripedbass]

Believe it or not, I've finally figured out how to use Yahoo Instant Messenger.

1) My question now is this: Can someone on iChat chat with someone on Yahoo Instant Messenger?

2) If so, how does someone on iChat add a buddy who belongs to Yahoo Messenger?

3) How does someone on iChat remove someone from their buddy list?

4) Also, can someone on iChat chat with someone on AIM?

Sorry for asking such dumb questions.

[Paddy]

1) No.
2) See above
3) Apparently, you click on the person on your buddy list that you want to delete. Go up to "Buddies" and then click on "Remove Buddy..." It will then give you the option of permanently deleting that person. (never used it myself either - had to look it up!)
4) Yes

My 16-year-old son, who spends a lot of time instant messaging friends back in North Andover has used Adium I think. It's a chat client that works with AIM, Yahoo, ICQ and a number of others. There is a version for 10.3.9.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/23031

[Al]

If you want to chat with both AIM and Yahoo clients, try a program called Adium.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/23031

If you're still on OS 10.3.9 make sure you download the proper version for your OS.

Have fun!  

[Paddy]

Not quite awake there, Al?

[Al]

LOL, oops, yes, it was EARLY!  

[stripedbass]

QUOTE(Al @ Oct 1 2008, 11:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LOL, oops, yes, it was EARLY!  

Hi Al & Paddy,

Thanks so much for telling me about Adium.

However, I have a dial-up connection so downloading is tricky. So far, I've not been able to successfully download it. After a while it tells me that an error occurredand stops downloading.

But I'll keep trying.

Thanks.

[Paddy]

Do you have a friend with a broadband connection? You could download it at the friend's house and then burn it to CD.