Memo to Instant Messenger Developers: Keep it Simple!
By: Bean Jones
Past Perfect. Missing the fuss-free versions of your favorite applications? Go to OldVersion.com to get back to the basics.
I'm a big Instant Messenger (IM) fan. You name it, I've tried it. Then again, I'm not exactly the kind of guy who goes nuts over all the latest versions of these killer applications. Why? It's because many of the much publicized versions of my favorite IMs just muddle up everything with added plug-ins that I don't even need.
Plug-In Purgatory
Why do I hate these plug-ins? For starters, most of them delay the launch of an IM. Case in point: The latest version of my all-time favorite Yahoo! Messenger (YM) serves up a suite of multimedia add-ons that just waste a lot of time. I get frustrated over the fact that I have to deal with a whole bunch of wachamacallits before I can even see if the person I want to contact is online. Hey, I don't want to fumble as I try to "collapse" a music plug-in when I'm in a hurry to, say, join an online conference.
I wonder what drives all these developers to load IMs with these superfluous plug-ins. Is it a case of paranoid overcompensation? Is the race to come up The One True IM really that competitive?
I think these IM developers have to realize that not all of us want to have plug-ins that we don't need. A good number of us IM fans are pretty happy when things are kept simple. That's not to say we don't appreciate upgrades of our beloved applications. It's just that we don't see the point of all these add-ons if they prevent us from transmitting messages in the fastest way possible. After all, isn't that what IMs are for?
Blasts from the Past
So, the other night, when I was so frustrated with my YM, I turned nostalgic and went to Google with the hope of chancing upon its older--and brilliantly simple--version.
Guess what?
I hit the jackpot when I stumbled upon OldVersion.com, a site which I like to call the mother lode of past programs. It's tagline had me chuckling: "Because newer is not always better."
I was hooked when I saw that the site offers old versions of all sorts of applications. I was ecstatic when I saw that, indeed, it had the old reliable, fuss-free versions of YM...and then some.
I quickly uninstalled the latest YM from my computer and downloaded the YM from a couple years back.
Simple Solution
So, if you're the kind of person who also likes to keep your chosen IM (or whatever other application you love) simple, I'd definitely recommend that you visit OldVersion.com. Because, in my opinion, any application that gives the user what he needs is the killer version--even if it happens to be old.
In any case, I've also come realize that the only thing that would beat having the old version of YM would be if my boss suddenly thinks of coming up with a nifty Simpleology Messenger. Now, that would make a geek like me very happy.
So sue me. I like it nice and simple. That's precisely why I love working here.
Comments
"any application that gives the user what he needs is the killer version--even if it happens to be old"
What a great truth!!
I keep heavy Photoshop CS2 in its box and I'm still working with old reliable version 7.
Thank you for the bookmark...however MSN doesn't allow to downgrade. :(
Michela
I think the new pimped-out versions (of IM software) are for kids. They seem to get bored quickly so adding gadgets keeps it interesting.
I have to agree with you that the newer versions are no necessarily better - but remember.....with the new features come bug fixes and security enhancements.
I would just LOVE IT if Simpleology could come up with a REALLY SIMPLE version of IM!
Mark, are you listening?...Please, come up with a simple IM!
Linda
I just hate it when the old reliable program I was used to is changed. Usually for the worst. Case in point. I loved the older version of the ebay toolbar. Then, they merged with yahoo, and added a lot of features I will never use.
As for instant messengers, I use Trillian. http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/ It allows you to chat with all of your contacts from AIM, MSN, YIM and ICQ, in one simple to use program. No clutter and no problems. If you haven't tried it yet, consider giving it a try. It is free. The pro version has more features, but I never use these anyway. Hope this helps.
Hi, guys!
Michela...That's a bummer. I hate it, too when everyone assumes that newer is better. I wish they allow you to downgrade.
John...Yeah, I agree with you on new versions having security enhancements...but then at times you're so annoyed with the "gadgets" that you can hardly appreciate the security enhancements. How about they just give us security enhancements minus the gadgets? :)
Linda...Yeah! That would be cool wouldn't it? A Simpleology IM is on my wish list right now.
Brian...Hey, great tip! Yeah, I'll give it a try. Now, see, if IM developers had the same mindset as you...then more people would be happy.
Thanks for reading! Keep coming back. :)
Although I came quite late to this entry, I would like to point readers to my favourite IM client, Pidgin.
http://www.pidgin.im/
It is very lightweight (lacking many of the extraneous bells and whistles in recent versions of other clients).
It can be used with all the most well-known protocols (Yahoo, MSN, AIM, Google, ICQ, even IRC and several other less well-known) meaning you need only one IM client for all those accounts.
It can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux OSs.
Good eh?
I use it now as my only IM client instead of having to have 3 or more installed.
If you use more than one IM client and you don't mind not having video conferencing Pidgin is an excellent replacement for them all.
(Sadly, it does not work with Skype but only because the Skype protocol is unpublished and has proven very difficult to reverse engineer.)