06/30: Windows Live Messenger
Posted by Alec
Most of Windows XP users use MSN Messenger. MSN Messenger had so many glitches that I could hardly breathe. Every week or so, MSN Messenger 7.5 on my machine would crash, causing my "anger days" when my computer wouldn't respond. My friend Steven Doran, who got major publicity in EGM Magazine, was one of the first users to use it as a beta. I remember in our conversations, he would beg me to sign up for the beta, but I would just simply say "No thanks, Steven." because I didn't want to go through the process of entering my email for spam, waiting weeks, getting the download, only to get a flimsy version of Windows Live Messenger. I bid to tell you that it was a big mistake of mine. I downloaded the program once it was publicly released, and at first, I somewhat had a feeling of buyers remorse, even through the program was free to me.
3 days after downloading it, it has grown on me. Seriously grown on me and I'm amazed at what it can do. When I first downloaded it, I changed my "Display Picture" and switched the blue "Color Scheme" to gray. Now whenever I look at it, I smile. It still has the bulk of 7.5, except Microsoft fixed the glitches and gave it a cool, new look. But, there's alot more in this package than I expected. After looking deep into the features of WLM, I found that it has a folder sharing feature, which allows you to send whole folders from your computer to the other person, without having to zip up files, etc.
Windows Live Spaces (Patrick blogged about it here) is intergrated with WLM, which is shown in screenshot 4 (below), allows you to view your friends Live Spaces without even entering your browser. Even through the features in the intergrated Live Space are limited, it is extremely easy to just right click on your friend through your contacts list and see their Live Space right through your WLM.
Some features are currently not used by me, like the "Request Remote Assistance" button, which allows anybody on your contact list to connect to your computer and let them control your desktop or help you with a program, etc. I have yet to use it, but someday I might. It looks like it's one handy feature. Everybody that is obsessed with MSN Messenger 7.5 must upgrade to Windows Live Messenger.
View Screenshot 1.
View Screenshot 2.
View Screenshot 3.
View Screenshot 4.
Download it here from live.com.
3 days after downloading it, it has grown on me. Seriously grown on me and I'm amazed at what it can do. When I first downloaded it, I changed my "Display Picture" and switched the blue "Color Scheme" to gray. Now whenever I look at it, I smile. It still has the bulk of 7.5, except Microsoft fixed the glitches and gave it a cool, new look. But, there's alot more in this package than I expected. After looking deep into the features of WLM, I found that it has a folder sharing feature, which allows you to send whole folders from your computer to the other person, without having to zip up files, etc.
Windows Live Spaces (Patrick blogged about it here) is intergrated with WLM, which is shown in screenshot 4 (below), allows you to view your friends Live Spaces without even entering your browser. Even through the features in the intergrated Live Space are limited, it is extremely easy to just right click on your friend through your contacts list and see their Live Space right through your WLM.
Some features are currently not used by me, like the "Request Remote Assistance" button, which allows anybody on your contact list to connect to your computer and let them control your desktop or help you with a program, etc. I have yet to use it, but someday I might. It looks like it's one handy feature. Everybody that is obsessed with MSN Messenger 7.5 must upgrade to Windows Live Messenger.
View Screenshot 1.
View Screenshot 2.
View Screenshot 3.
View Screenshot 4.
Download it here from live.com.
