Review Pidgin Instant Messenger

Do you use instant messengers such as Yahoo!, AIM, or MSN? Do you have to run multiple client programs and watch your computers memory slowly drain away? Well, not anymore!

Pidgin Instant Messenger is a multi-platform(works with Windows, Linux, and Mac) messaging client that can run all of your messaging needs. Sometimes friends are on a different messenger than you have installed on your computer and you really just don't feel like running yet another client program.

Here's the good news: Pidgin has you covered. Pidgin currently supports the following instant messaging services:

AIM(AOL Instant Messenger)
Bonjour
Gadu-Gadu
Google Talk
GroupWise
ICQ
IRC
MSN
MySpaceIM
QQ
SILC
SIMPLE
Sametime
XMPP
Yahoo! IM
Zephyr

So as you can see, it is pretty extensive. The best part is that you can be signed into all of those at once! Even multiple accounts on the same network. This really simplifies the entire messaging process by giving you a central program, with an easy to use interface to handle all of these. You will never have to tell a friend that you do not use their client. As an example, my Pidgin currently handles AIM, MSN, two Yahoo! Accounts, two GoogleTalk accounts, and ICQ. It covers all your bases.

Aside from the ability to run multiple messengers, Pidgin has many useful features. Pidgin is fully skin-able and has numerous plug-ins to cover what ever you need to do and much more. Pidgin supports file transfer, Buddy Notes(a small notepad that allows you to make notes about your online friends), Buddy Pounces, which lets you set up a message to auto-send when a certain buddy signs on, text replacement, auto spell check, and a host of others.

Now for the downside: Pidgin does not yet support video chat. I am told this is something they are working on, so it should be expected in a future release. Unfortunately, if you like video chat, you'll need to run that proprietary client that you are used to.

Pidgin looks slick, whether you are using Windows or Linux. Pidgin runs on very little memory, so you've freed up a lot of your computer's abilities by getting rid of all those separate messenger programs, allowing you to spend more time doing the things you like on the internet and with twice the speed!

You can check out Pidgin Instant Messenger at their site: http://www.pidgin.im/

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By: Jack Lhasa
Published: 05/14/08