AIM Alternatives

[audiobliss]

I've finally decided I need to try out something new as for a 3rd party AIM client. I've been using GAIM (now Pidgin) for quite some time, but I'm tired of putting up with its glitches and having to open another screen name through AIM every time I need to do a file transfer.

I've used AIM a few times, and I really have no issues with its layout or the way it works. It would suit me just fine...EXCEPT! Except for the fact that I use about three different screen names regularly, and I HATE the way AIM sections off the buddy list for each screen name separately. The way Pidgin lumps your buddies from every screen name into one buddy list, just separated by your dictated groups, is FAR superior, at least for me.

So, is there another alternative here that's a bit more solid and capable like AIM and handles your buddy list like Pidgin does?

Thanks!

[tcrossma]

I use Trillian. Not sure if it will solve your issues but it has worked great for me for years.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

I sue Trillian as well

[VSchneider]

+1 for Trillian

I've been using it for ages now for both work and play

[bobman1235]

I tried Trillian but went back to Pidgin. The file transfer nonsense is annoying but considering that's the only glitch with it, I've stuck with it.

Another option you may want to try is Digsby (http://www.digsby.com/). Similar to Pidgin, plus it has some social networking (Facebook, MySpace) stuff built in.

[bigaudiofanatic]

+1 for Trillian

[audiobliss]

I tried Trillian but went back to Pidgin. The file transfer nonsense is annoying but considering that's the only glitch with it, I've stuck with it.

Another option you may want to try is Digsby (http://www.digsby.com/). Similar to Pidgin, plus it has some social networking (Facebook, MySpace) stuff built in.
If the file transfer were the only negative, I would be more than happy to open AIM every time I wanted to do a file transfer and continue using GAIM for everything else. However, for me, I've had more issues with it. Whenever someone sends me a link through an IM with GAIM, when I click on the link, it'll take at least two or three full seconds before my browser will even launch (even if it's already open - and I use Firefox 3), and then a while before the page will load. And if my computer's been on for a few days, it could take five or six seconds for my browser to launch. That gets extremely annoying.

Also, GAIM itself seems to be slow. I have it so my IM boxes open in tabs. Usually when I click to close a tab, it'll freeze GAIM for anywhere from two to 8 seconds while it closes that tab. Same deal when I close the GAIM program. It takes forever.

I've been putting up with those glitches for quite a while because I really like GAIM's interface, but I'm just getting tired of it now.

[audiobliss]

I installed the newer version of Pidgin, hoping that would help things out. Nope. :(

So then I installed Trillian. And just lemme tell you...wow! This is AWESOME! It sure seems to be a LOT fancier with its menus and interface, so we'll see if it seems to be more of a drag on the system, but so far, I'm really loving it!!

[audiobliss]

Ok, so I'm LOVING Trillian so far. However, there is one MAJOR drawback I'm dealing with right now. So far, whenever I start a new IM, it opens that dialog in a NEW box. I don't want that. I want it to be a new TAB in my EXISTING box. If I'm talking to someone through AIM and someone else on AIM IM's me, it's a new tab in that box. Awesome. If I initiate a new IM with someone on AIM, it's a new box. Not good. If I initiate a new IM with someone on MSN or Yahoo!, it's a new box. Not good.

I did figure out (somehow) to put them all in one box after they're opened. But I don't want to have to do that every time. Is there a way to make Trillian just put them all as tabs in one window?

I unchecked the option to "group message windows together according to contact list groups", and even restarted the program after that, but it seemed to do no good.