Chat Clients : A mini shootout

[GNUrag]

On request from Ricky, i am doing a small shootout of chat clients in linux/unix environment. However this list is about the clients that i have used.

Chat Clients : A mini shootout

1) Unix Talk
This one is the most basic chat program available for all the unix geeks since ages. First developed by AT&T and introduced with in 70's with version 1 of AT&T UNIX, the Unix Talk program became a rage among the techies of that age. It is still used very widely. I myself am accessible on talk anytime during the day.
Guys you should use this atleast once. You'll fall in love instantly!!!

Clients:
$ talk
$ write , $ wall

2) IRC
Perhaps IRC is the most widely used chat program in the world. First developed and introduced in early 90's, IRC opened the gates of internet to non-geek people. Someone asked me a while back that, "Where do you live anurag ?" ................. and i said: "freenode.net"

Clients i use:Gaim, Kopete

3) Jabber
Jabber is a free instant messaging platform which is distributed in nature and can be setup be any organization unlike the highly centralised nature of other networks like MSN/ICQ/Yahoo!... FSF-India server has jabber server installed where i normally have to hang around.

Clients i use: Kopete (very nice client !!!!!)

4) Yahoo, MSN, ICQ
Do i have to say anything about these? Despite these being proprietary technologies, i still have to use these networks to keep in touch with my friends who dont prefer irc.

Clients i use: aMSN, ymessenger(for linux)

ps: this is a list of programs that i have used and prefer. and in no way is this list complete. If you have any favourite client then please share it with us!

[klinux]

since its a shootout , u could tell us from ur experience if all the prog from windows , eg yahoo,msn , have all the features like webcam , voice , archives , avatars in linux version too . plus whats the future of IMs in linux , are there secured IMs with encryption ? what abt mobile to IM ?

i know its a lot of questions , if answered , i hope it helps ricky's project

[alib_i]

isnt there something like 'netsend' in linux ..
one guy i knew was trying to work on it !!

[GNUrag]

Originally Posted by alib_i

isnt there something like 'netsend' in linux ..

I wrote there about the Unix talk program... its much much better than netsend. With talk, two way chat is possible...

@klinux, why dont you guys write about it ?

[firewall]

Originally Posted by GNUrag

... Unix talk program... its much much better than netsend. With talk, two way chat is possible...

True. i can remember the old days, well few years back actually in college 'talk' was the most frequently used tool by us for chatting locally over telnet

Its amazing over the networks for chatting....

[nixcraft]

Yahoo chat client

Zinc (supports Anti-Booting) : zinc.sf.net

[BONZI]

I use ymessenger, Xchat and kopete. Kopete as gnu said is gr8 and has some eyecandy. With Xchat you will never miss mirc (but still no invision ). Ymessenger well you know it

[ravemz]

Originally Posted by alib_i

isnt there something like 'netsend' in linux ..
one guy i knew was trying to work on it !!

check this out , and rave ur reviews.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gladenetsend

[desertwind]

Originally Posted by klinux

since its a shootout , u could tell us from ur experience if all the prog from windows , eg yahoo,msn , have all the features like webcam , voice , archives , avatars in linux version too . plus whats the future of IMs in linux , are there secured IMs with encryption ? what abt mobile to IM ?

i know its a lot of questions , if answered , i hope it helps ricky's project

for the time being, amsn and ymessenger do not support webcam/voice. well, both supports archives. amsn do support avatars.