May 22, 2001 11:09 PM
4742 Views
MSN messenger is a type of programme that is becoming ever popular at the moment. It gives you ability to chat to people who you want to chat to. The best version that you can get at the moment is Version 3.6. You can download it very easily and a few times a year a new version will come out. But there is never much difference between them. And it is Free!
Every one that I know that has the Internet has MSN messenger, and they all use it very often. I have around 50 people on my contact list, which means that I can talk to them 50 people. But you can have up to 70 contacts on your list. Apart from just personal friends that you know, it is also a great way to meet and talk to other people, just find out there email address and them add them to your contact list, or just get them to add you to there contact list. The only draw back is that they have to have a hotmail passport (posh word for hotmail email address!) In MSN messenger service you can a conversation with up to 5 people including yourself, and you cannot stop anyone from inviting you in to a conversation involving other people.
MSN messenger service also gives you instant access to your inbox, hotmail only though! Also when you sign in to MSN messenger, if you have any emails in your hotmail inbox then a small indicator will appear in the bottom left of you computer screen, this will also happen if you receive mail while you are signed in. You also get instant access to the MSN homepage.... is that good or not?
Apart from just chatting and talking to people you can also do other things, like send and receive pictures and sound files or just any old file. Also you can have voice conversation with someone, only one person at a time though, and both the people have to have a microphone! By far the best feature of this service is the ability to have a net meeting, in this you can do many things, like you can have take part in an interactive whiteboard, were you both draw on the white board and then it appears instantly on both computers, also you can have collaborate your computers, now this is a bit freaky, because only one person at a time can control the mouse, and sometimes a small argument can follow. By far the best feature on the net meeting is the option to 'share', if both people involved in the net meeting 'share' then both people can view what is on the other person’s screen. Cool!
Unfortunalty on MSN messenger you cannot stop someone who has your email address and then adds you to there contact list, and they cannot stop you. But you can have the option to block them. This means whenever they sign in it appears that you are not signed in. Also you have the option to set the service for your own reasons you can be:
Online: Every can see that you are signed in and can start a conversation with you at any time.
Busy: When people sign in at has 'busy' next to your name, they can start a conversation with you but they are aware that you might not reply. As you are busy working or something like that.
Be right Back: Same as busy, but people know that you will be back online soon.
Away: Basically the same as 'busy', but it means that you are not at your computer
On the phone: Basically the same as 'away' and 'busy'
Out to Lunch: Basically the same as 'away'
Appear Offline: This means that every that signs on, think that you are not signed in to the service, but you can see everyone that signs in.
This is great programme and, to copy a line from an advert:- A Great way to keep in tough' and its FREE!!!!
