Windows speaks your instant messaging dialect, too

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 30 September 2008 21:15

Opinion and Analysis

Now, not everyone in the world uses Skype, and I could easily come across someone that I need to talk to that uses something else, so Pidgin could be useful there.

But simpler still is to freely download a Skype API Plugin for Pidgin, once again for Windows, Linux and even OS X users, from an enterprising fellow called Eion Robb.

But will I use it? Probably not.

I’d actually probably use Pidgin without the Skype plug-in, because I prefer the Skype interface, especially in the beta 4.0 version, and do use Skype’s video call capabilities – leaving Pidgin to handle any MSN, ICQ, Yahoo and AIM contacts I might make in the future, just so I can have one IM program (beyond Skype) instead of several others running at the same time.

The major benefit for Linux users, according to David’s article, is so they can talk to their Windows using friends who have MSN/Windows Live Messenger.

Ah well, Windows users can benefit too, while having the choice of running Windows Messenger anyway, should they want to make use of any of the more advanced features, whether to have a voice conversation, play a multiplayer game, or make a video call.

So, while you’ll always find open source software on Linux that serves as an alternative to commercial software, the good news for Windows users is that quite often, the same software is available to download for Windows too, giving users the same open source fuzzy feeling benefit.

And that’s even despite the fact Window users are using an OS that comes from the more-evil-than-Google, money-grubbing, activation-requiring, US bailout supporting, capitalistic, anti-Linux, Bill Gates co-founded multinational corporation that has the "genuine advantage" of being Microsoft. None of which scares me away from using and enjoying Windows in the slightest.

David ends by inviting readers to talk to him, and I happily make the same request. David says he’d like to “help nut out the little things – or even the big things – which get in the way of anyone having the most positive Linux experience they can”, and asks “what are the issues which bug you?”.

Well, I’ll do ye olde cut and paste and change that slightly to: I’d like to help nut out the little things – or even the big things – which get in the way of anyone having the most positive Windows experience they can. What are the issues which bug you?