What to do about all your IM clients and their bloatware?

[POGE]

Introduction
I'm sure a lot of you use some of these clients, but don't you hate the spyware most of them install on your computer? AIM makes you look at advertisements, they all pop up little "news" windows, and they are generally full of bloatware. You have a few options from here on...

Solutions


Stick with them, disable the news popups, and live with the AIM ads. You can also use a hack called "middleman" which hides AIM's advertisements, allows for transparency, logging, and aliasing.


Get Gaim - It's an open source app that supports AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, and even Googletalk. Gaim is ideal for a minimalist, as it is simple, clean, and configurable. You can get it for Linux or Windows. It has logging, tabs, send and receive files, aliasing, and buddy icons, but that's about it.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/139/images/gaim.jpg

Get Miranda - Miranda is a lot like Gaim, but I found it to be even lighter weight, and have more complex options. It is a bit harder to configure though.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/139/images/miranda.jpg

Get Trillian - So you want to get rid of all your annoying clients, but you can't live without the features? Trillian is what you want. It has tons of features, such as video, tabs, buddy icons, aliasing, send and receive files, and profiling. It supports AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and ICQ. Trillian is for Windows only, and if you want use all of its features you'll need to get Trillian Pro.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/139/images/trillian.jpg

Get older versions of your clients. Go to http://www.oldversion.com and download older versions of AIM, MSN, and Yahoo. They have less features, but they also have a lot less spyware. If you are using the new AIM Triton, and you don't want Gaim or Trillian, this is a must.


I prefer the second option. I am a minimalist, and I like the fact that Gaim supports Googletalk, and Linux.

Googletalk with Gaim or Miranda:

For Gaim:

Go to Tools > Accounts > Add
Protocol = Jabber
Screen Name = Your Gmail account name without @gmail.com
Server = gmail.com
Password = your password
Click on "Show more options"
Make sure "Use TLS if available" is checked
Port = 5222
Connect Server = talk.google.com
Proxy Type = "Use Global Proxy Settings"

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/139/images/gtalkgaim.png

For Miranda:

Main Menu > Options
Username = Your Gmail account name without @gmail.com
Login Server = gmail.com
Check "Use SSL"
Check "Manually specify connection host" if it isn't already
Host = talk.google.com
Port = 5223

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/139/images/gtalkmiranda.png

You should now be able to log onto your Googletalk account.

Files

Here are some links to downloads of older version.

Old version of AIM (http://download.oldversion.com/aim553572.exe)
Old version of MSN (http://download.oldversion.com/msnm50xp.exe)
Old version of Yahoo (http://download.oldversion.com/yahoo50.exe)
Gaim for Windows (http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gaim/gaim-1.5.0.exe)
Gaim for Linux (http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gaim/gaim-1.5.0.x86.package)
Trillian (Free Version) (http://www.shareup.com/getfile.php?v=&file=ftp%3A%2F%2Fftpx.download.com%2Fpub%2Fwin95%2 Futilities%2Ftrillian-v3.0.exe)
Trillian Pro (Non-Free Version) (https://www.ceruleanstudios.com/buy/buy.php)
Miranda (http://easynews.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/miranda/miranda-im-v0.4.0.3.exe)
Middleman (http://middleman.krunchsoftware.com/dl.php)

[G.T]

/uses Trill PRo

It does what it says on the tin and has some nifty features.

[bigboi86]

Interesting read :)

I used to use trillian, but it sucks IMO.

[Satchmo]

two cups with piece of string is all i need. no spyware, no ads.

sometimes the string breaks, and i have to walk a while to fix but is ok. in USA you use IM to talk, in russia, IM uses you.

[zekrahminator]

I ignore AIM's faults (5.9 on all my machines, triton sucks). Its simple, does all I need it to, and when someone wants a webcam/mike chat, I switch to yahoo (no problems there either). I am considering GAIM though...but only for a hilarious smiley expansion pack :). I tried Trillian, it was nearly impossible to configure and is severely limited in the basic version. But right now I know I spend WAY too much time on the computer, and I'm considering just getting Xfire and deleting everything else :laugh: yeah, Xfire and games sounds good to me.

[PVTCaboose1337]

gaim is what i use, as well as AIM occasionally

[FLY3R]

Great information!!! Nice work.

[POGE]

Updated. Comments welcome. :)

[zekrahminator]

thanks for the screenshots :D

[wazzledoozle]

Trillian>GAIM
GAIM= Gay Assimilator Instant Messenger

[POGE]

What you using? I use Gaim, but I'm considering Miranda.

[zekrahminator]

Wow, thats really informative :toast:. I think I'll stick with GAIM though...It has transparency controls that look AMAZING in Vista.

[Migons]

I use Gaim ('cause non-GTK apps' systray icon will cause trouble with fbpanel), but sadly I never see when a new message arrives - that's because of fbpanel (it doesn't flash or flicker). Maybe I'll try GNOME Panel sometime...

[PVTCaboose1337]

Trillian>GAIM
GAIM= Gay Assimilator Instant Messenger

How could you say that. Trillian sucks resources from the computer! Gaim is lightweight and allows for customization. I love it because it allows for NO POPUPS!

[KennyT772]

well gaim is a lightweight as thats what its sposed to be...
trillian on the otherhand is still under the useage in 3 connection then aim, msn, or yahoo each. i have my server rig port forwarded and running trillian so i can msg even from school...gotta love it.

[G.T]

How could you say that. Trillian sucks resources from the computer!
If ya p00ter has some meaty balls/enougher power and RAM you can spare the ickle bit more juice it pulls. =P



;)

[DVD-Man]

Do any of these clients (I know Trillian doesn't) allow the user to see custom emoticons from your contacts & receive nudges (both MSN features) for example?

Cheers!