AOL Instant Messenger works quite well - Macs have a built in client, and PC's have Trillian, which is another great instant messaging program. Give it a shot and see if you like it!

Peter Redmer
Administrator
Visit my blog, "Caffeinated Pixels"
Follow Me on Twitter

You're right, MrScott, it isn't that easy (is it ever?) but I figured it would be a bit out of scope to include a fully detailed AIM how-to in this thread :) But I use AIM daily, so here's some more information:

It is primarily geared for person to person contact. With AIM, you can create lists of your contacts, and group them appropriately. Any computer with an AIM client should pick up your "Buddy List" which is stored on the AIM servers (or wherever they decide to put it.) So, in a sense, your buddy list is being stored and managed. If your computer crashes, when you reinstall AIM and log in, your Buddy List will still be there, the same goes if you access on your mobile phone, etc.

You can also create chat rooms which multiple people can join, if invited. I've found that this group function works quite well.

Billboard, if you want to chat with users online, you would need to know their AIM (or other messaging service) ID's. I would advise against asking (or nagging) other users for this private information, though. I wouldn't advise sharing it in public, either, since that could have some negative results.

And MrScott is also correct in pointing out that there is no AOL usability incorporated into RoboCommunity, so merely installing an AIM client does not magically get you connected with other users.

Here's a link to the AOL Instant Messenger FAQ, hopefully it will be of some assistance to you.

I don't have much experience with other messaging clients.

I apologize for not elaborating further in my initial post, hopefully this clears up any questions.

Peter Redmer
Administrator
Visit my blog, "Caffeinated Pixels"
Follow Me on Twitter

Agreed. It would not make sense for someone to parallel what we have here. Using an external chat client to replace conversation on the community could create potential issues for the user:

- It wouldn't create a post that any user on the community can discover, which would limit exposure and comments from the public

- It doesn't help you if you're in a dramatically different timezone; i.e, you may not be able to talk to your friends anyway if they're halfway across the globe and asleep

- It could affect your browsing experience negatively if you get constant pings

- It could open potential security issues for you and your computer

- If you ping someone and they're not there, they may never get the message, where if you leave it on the community, they are guaranteed to receive it

The moral here is that an external chat client simply cannot replace what the community has to offer, and that much is lost (for everyone) if conversations are ever steered away from the community.

Frankly, PM's can be used as a private "chat" mechanism - I have done so many times, and it works well and quickly, along with creating a record on the site of who I have talked to, and email notifications so I don't miss them :)

Peter Redmer
Administrator
Visit my blog, "Caffeinated Pixels"
Follow Me on Twitter

I agree that PM's cannot replace the "instant gratification" of a real-time chat room, I was just pointing out that it "can be used" if you need to chat with someone.

I should have clarified in my last post that I was referring to using an external chat client to replace interaction on the community, I apologize for not stating that specifically.

An integrated, native chat solution would incorporate the conversation in a beneficial way, where navigating conversation off of the community to an external chat client would definitely detract from the community.

So, I agree with you on all accords :)

Peter Redmer
Administrator
Visit my blog, "Caffeinated Pixels"
Follow Me on Twitter