Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger is the Live version of the popular MSN Messenger. The design is much improved from the previous version and includes many new features. The application logs you in automatically every time you log in to your computer which started to annoy me because it added a good 30 seconds on to my startup time, so after a while I disabled it at logon (and its amazing how mcuh work you can get done with it off).

There are plenty of IM (Instant Messenger) clients out there, near enough every email service will have one which means you have a great choice ahead of you. Windows Live Messenger has plenty of features including; making phone calls, buddy list (seperated online and offline), integrated web search, theme support, contact cards, integration with Windows Live Mail and Spaces, so if you are a Windows Live user you’re pretty much catered for. When someone logs on a small window appears in the bottom right telling you who has come online and by clicking it you can start a message.

You can share folders, use webcams, microphones and even write text in your handwriting using a paint style interface. You can add emoticons and even set emoticons for a certain word as well as send nudges to the recipients to catch their attention, you can have multiple people in a conversation and play games against each other over the internet.

The program is free, but it has drawbacks, to keep it free Microsoft have had to allow advertising on the program, it is just a small strip across the bottom but it is still in the way. However, it offers great features and the advertising is only on the main screen which isn’t normally kept open. It’s attractive and definitely worth a look at, although I do know some people who refuse to upgrade from previous versions of MSN Messenger. You can download it now from get.live.com/messenger/overview.

Simon North, 26th January 2007