posted on December 6, 2003 08:17:33 AM newShort version:
I am writing to ask for advise in finding an Instant Message program other than Yahoo Messenger that will work between a Mac and Windows machine on different ISPs.
Long Version:
If you made it past the first paragraph and are still reading, this is the story. My sister and I have been using Yahoo Messenger to send information on items we are researching for eBay. (See, I made it eBay related.) I have a Mac, she has a Windows machine. This process has worked flawlessly for hours every day for months until last week when my Yahoo messenger program started to bomb every time she sent me a message. I could still send her messages if I did not BUZZ before the message. This is a family crisis since we have come to depend on these IMs.
Yahoo help has been useless. They keep sending the same canned response to dump everything in the program and reinstall. Been there, done that over and over and it still bombs when she sends me a message. Now when I type a message it sometimes shows in my message window and sometimes does not. If I start my dreaded Virtual PC emulator (gnashing of teeth...I hate Windows!) it works fine. Has to be a Mac operating system problem but I have not changed anything in my system.
I really don't expect any help from Yahoo on a free service and I doubt that anyone here can solve my problem with the Mac system. Also I will not consider changing to Windows because the Mac is, to me, the very best machine for an artist. I am looking for a cheap (or even free) Instant Messenger programs that will work between two ISPs (Verizon and Earthlink). I have searched the internet and have not had any success. We are not going to sign up for AOL and I do not understand the process to sign up for MSN messaging only. I sent a question to MSN on their comment form but it was returned with no reason for the failure.
If anyone can suggest an option I will check it out. Thanks. -----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 6, 2003 08:58:12 AM new
Photo - I am way too anti-social to worry about things such as real time internet communication so I am no use to you Knowing how few Mac users there are on this board though I was wondering if you have gone to any of the various Mac help boards for advice on this one? I'm surprised the Mac has not developed a communicator as a companion to their Safari browser. This is one of those times where we could really use Fluffy but in the mean time - try going to the Round Table and posting this same question to the Attn. of Profe who is another hardcore Mac user who may have a suggestion.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
Mac OSX has an excellent chat feature but it only works with other Macs. Actually Yahoo is supposed to work with Mac as are MSN and AOL. The problem is not the Mac (except for the weird way Yahoo is acting) but that I am finding it difficult to identify an IM program that will work with two different ISPs. MSN says you can sign up just for the messaging for something over a dollar a month. At least I think that is what they are saying but I can not find any place to ask a question on the MSN site and my comment was returned with an unexplained failure. Sigh!
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 6, 2003 09:30:42 AM new
I've never experienced a problem with aol on my Mac I hve used them for years and it actually seems to be less buggy than I have heard many PC users mention.
MSN does not seem to make a Mac compatible messenger and from what I have heard, with Mac releasing its own browser, Microsoft is not planning to continue to support Mac versions of Explorer either.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 6, 2003 09:58:41 AM new
Hello photosensitive
I do not own a mac but I do have a experience with software that has gone awry.
You mentioned you un-installed the software but did you do a "find" and delete all files too!
the reason is ...something has changed/corrupted in the software when you do an un-install it does not remove everything sooooo when you reinstall if a file is already there it goes by it what if the bad seed is still left on your system - therefor is always best to get rid of all! and of course a REBOOT too. Then try a reinstall which a better reinstall. Now having said that if the problem is in the registry well we don't want to go there... easier to format.
Also you may want to also re trace what happened just before it did work and didn't work did you install anything, update something maybe it did something
just a few thoughts maybe you could get your yahoo back up
posted on December 6, 2003 10:09:42 AM new
Thanks sarniaflower, but I did indeed do a search for every bit of the program, preferences, cookies, caches, and assorted bits and pieces. I then restarted and downloaded a fresh intall. I did this not one time but three! The problem has changed a bit (for the wrose) but is still there.
The only change I made was to add a new expternal hard drive but I tried it without that and it still did not work. I still suspect a change in the Yahoo server that my operating system does not like.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 6, 2003 10:15:24 AM new
photo, iChat on Mac OS X, if that's what you're using, is in fact an AOL IM client. You should have no difficulty in communicating with any other AOL instant message users, regardless of their platform. You don't have to "sign up" for AOL to use their messaging network, you just need to go there and get a username and password, it takes about a minute, then you can use iChat and your sister can download the AIM client for her M$ machine. Apple chose to make iChat into an aol client because it is by far the most frequently used IM system worldwide.Sign up for an AOL IM user name, you don't have to download the client, because you already have iChat. Just get a screen name and password and you're all set. Sign up here:
It goes without saying that you wouldn't think of switching to Win-doze
___________________________________
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then gets elected and proves it.
-- P. J. ORourke (Holidays in hell, 1989)
posted on December 6, 2003 10:23:57 AM new
profe51,
I am using Jaguar but I know my husband will want Panther soon. The local Apple store told me iChat would only work with other system X Macs. Of course they have given me wrong information in the past. My sister is on Earthlink with Windows and is not going to get AOL. I thought at one time there was a move for uniform IM spplications but it had not happened. Is this true?
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 6, 2003 10:32:02 AM new
Photo - I think you missed the part where Profe stated that your sister does not have to subscribe to AOL to use AIM.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 6, 2003 10:49:18 AM new
Fenix and Profe,
I looked at the AIM page and did not find anything about using AIM if you were not an AOL member. I had to go several steps away to the What's AIM? pgae to find anything that said it could be used by non AOL members.
If we can both sign up without being AOL users that might solve the problem.
Thanks to both of you. I looked at that AOL instant messenger page early in my search and assumed it would require a membership in AOL because I did not see anything saying it didn't.
Vendio is a really grand place!
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 6, 2003 11:44:34 AM new
Photo - from the front page
Clik Download button
Click New Users Button
See large text on left that says IT'S FREE right next to the registration form.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 6, 2003 08:16:04 PM new
photo: you're making this way too complicated for yourself.
1. It's hard to believe someone at an APPLE RETAIL STORE told you that. Are you sure you weren't in a compusa, bestbuy or elsewhere? Their salespeople are not trained in Macs, and I have many times heard them give people absolutely ridiculous information.
2. Think about this, have you ever had an email bounced back to you because you sent it to a PC from a Mac? Of course not. Instant messaging is no different. All IM's are sent using some sort of protocol which can recognize it's own messages. There are a number of systems, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, and AOL. These are protocols for message recognition, nothing more. It doesn't have anything to do with what kind of computer is sending or receiving, it only matters that the PROGRAM that is used on the given computer to send or receive the message is compatible with the messaging protocol.
2. please read fenix's post. Of course AOL isn't going to tell you about other AIM clients, they want you to use THEIRS, for reasons that are not stated, but undoubtedly have to do with user tracking and advertising. Never the less, there are LOTS of AIM compatible IM clients out there, and iChat is one.
You, as a Mac user using Jaguar, have a preinstalled program which sends and receives messages using the AOL protocol. It can send messages to ANY other user regardless of their operating system, as long as THEY have an AOL compatible IM program too. When I say AOL compatible, I am talking about the messaging software developed by AOL...NOT the AOL Internet Service. The two are completely different. Windows users do not necessarily have AOL Messenger installed, and so if they want to use AIM, they have to download the program first. YOU DON"T. You can if you want to, but there isn't any reason to as you already have iChat.
I don't know how else to say it. All you need is an AOL screen name and password, available at the link I gave you. You don't have to DL anything. Your sister needs to download the free client and get an AOL screen name and password, and then you two will be able to chat up a storm. At the present moment, I have iChat running and my buddy list has at least 15 people on it, ALL of them using PC's, and NONE of them use AOL for their internet service.
Done.
___________________________________
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then gets elected and proves it.
-- P. J. ORourke (Holidays in hell, 1989)
posted on December 7, 2003 07:16:27 AM new
Profe and Felix,
My obvious confusion is because I don't understand IM protocol and in spite of reading a large number of internet sites it never because clear to me which protocols were compatible. I have read some article on Cnet News about the lack of common protocols in IM so expected to have a problem. We have used Yahoo Messenger for months without a hitch so I never bothered to learn more until my Yahoo stopped working last week.
Yes, Profe it was indeed an Apple Store employee who told me that iChat only worked with another Mac with System X so I didn't explore that option. I would never expect to get an answer to an Apple question at CompUSA! I asked my husband if he remembered the conversation at the Apple store in the mall and his memory was exactly the same as mine.
Without this board I would still be in a fog about IM but now I think I can get us back on track. Thanks again for the help.
Done, indeed! (At least I hope so.) -----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 7, 2003 08:15:51 AM new
photosensitive,
When you ask computer questions... it's important that you phrase the questions correctly. If you asked the Apple Store employee "Can I use iChat on a Windows computer?," then the correct answer would have been "No, iChat will only run on a Macintosh Computer with OSX." That is because iChat is a really great program... and Apple is proud that they are the only system that has it!
However... if you asked the Apple Store employee "Can I use iChat to communicate with a friend who has a Windows computer?," then the appropriate answer would be "Yes, as long as your friend has an AOL screen name and AOL instant messenger installed on their windows computer, then you can communicate with each other... you'll just have a better program to do it with!."
Do you see how a slight change in how you phrase the question determines the answer you receive? I would be VERY shocked if the Apple store people would give you the wrong information deliberately. They just may not have know which question you were asking. The best thing to do if you don't know HOW to phrase your question... is to explain exactly what you want to do. Then... they can give you advice on how you can best achieve it. I hope that helps in the future.
posted on December 7, 2003 08:23:52 AM new
Photo, I am a macuser also. I use AIM and love it. I have no other AOhell software on my machine. You can download the Aim installer for free from the webite http:/www.aim.com. It works across platforms. It's simple enough that I was able to teach my mother to use it!
When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
posted on December 7, 2003 08:32:38 AM new
Awww Profe - but I love cCompUSA employees... they are so helpful and knowledgable!
Remember after the G3 came out when we first started seeing video editing software? I wanted to run it but was using a Power Mac and many were not compatible. I found one software package that did list the system requirements on the box and asked one of the helpful CompUSA wizards is they could help. He took the box, carefully studied the side and announced that, yes, I could use the software with my PowerMac. Of course when I asked where he found this information I realised he was reading the patent numbers. (Software was not compatible)
My all time fav though is listeneing to one tell a woman that she would need to purchase Photoshop in order to utilize the $20 clip art disk she wanted to spice up her Word document newsletters with. Of course it would not be neccesary to purchase the full version though, as long as she had ANY Adobe product, she could just buy the upgrade and it wouldwork fine. (when he walked away I clarified BOTH inaccuracies for her).
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 7, 2003 09:15:24 AM new
now wait a minute-i am an aol user (cable),are you saying anyone can get an aol account and a password without being an aol fee paying customer??
if so,then have this non aol user tries to log on to aol screen and get online ??
by the way,if both you and your sister use aol as internet service provider,you two can set up a private chatroom and chat all you want privately.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on December 7, 2003 09:21:17 AM new
It's amazing to me that Apple has continued it's relationship with CompUSA. The Apple sections are poorly stocked, the machines aren't hooked up or turned on, and the employees, if you can get one to venture into that region of the store, will do everything they can to steer you into the higher profit/commission PC section...I won't ever go into another one. The Apple Stores, on the other hand, are a joy to just go in and hang around...I don't get to a city big enough to do that more than about twice a year, but it sure is fun...
___________________________________
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then gets elected and proves it.
-- P. J. ORourke (Holidays in hell, 1989)
posted on December 7, 2003 09:23:03 AM new
Eauctionmgnt, the question I asked in the Apple store was, "Can I use iChat to communicate with my sister who has a Windows system?" I don't know much about IM but I have worked with computers since 1985 and do know enough to ask that question. Don't mean to sound defensive but I am still a little annoyed at the Apple store employee. I looked at the iChat program and see that I can use either Mac.com (to which I do not subscribe) or sign up for an AOL AIM account. I also have learned here that this does not require being an AOL user so as soon as both my sister and I download the software we should be good to go.
I agree that the CompUSA people are nice but are hard to corner with a question and do not always give the right answers about Macs.
Maybe we should organize an eBay Outlook Mac Users Group for mutual support.
Thanks again to everyone.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 7, 2003 09:45:18 AM new
Stop - read what is being said. No one is saying that you can access AOL free. We are saying that you can use AIM without being an AOL customer.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
Excuse me, I know I can not use AOL free. Don't know why I would want to. I also don't know what I said to give that impression but that is not what I intended. I just signed up for an AOL AIM screen name with no problem and no question about billing.
I thank you all for your help which put me on the right track. I think I have a handle on this now.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on December 7, 2003 10:18:20 AM new
Photo - my post was not directed to you it was directed to StopWhining and their misconception that we were saying you could access AOL free.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 7, 2003 10:33:44 AM new
Fenix, OOPS! I read the Stop as saying that I should stop and rethink what I said about using the AOL AIM for free.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
If that was the question you asked the Apple employee... then they definately gave you the wrong answer. That is not the type of service you should be getting from the Apple store (who typically hires only the brightest of Mac support salesmen!) It truly would be worth your while to complain to the manager of the store, especially if you can identify the salesman. Nobody (especially Apple!) wants the Apple stores to be giving inaccurate information!
posted on December 7, 2003 04:32:22 PM new
Photo, you really should let the Apple store know. Apple is going to great lengths to show Windows users who are thinking about switching that there really is compatibility between systems, I'm sure they'd like to correct any employee who is giving a false impression to customers.
I second the idea of a Mac users group here!
___________________________________
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then gets elected and proves it.
-- P. J. ORourke (Holidays in hell, 1989)
Knowing how few Mac users there are on this board though I was wondering if you have gone to any of the various Mac help boards for advice on this one? I'm surprised the Mac has not developed a communicator as a companion to their Safari browser. This is one of those times where we could really use Fluffy but in the mean time - try going to the Round Table and posting this same question to the Attn. of Profe who is another hardcore Mac user who may have a suggestion.