Once all is said and done, the end user experience for Mac IM users is often more exciting and more flawless then it is for their friends on the other side of the OS fence.
Here are just some of the best and brightest IMs Mac has to offer:
Single-Protocol IMs
- iChat: A native application to Mac OS X, iChat offers users the ability to connect to friends on AIM and .Mac accounts. Offering text-based IM, audio/video chat and (in OS X Leopard) screen sharing, this client is typically a new Mac user's gateway to the world of IM for the Mac. iChat Review.
- AIM for Macintosh: While Mac users can already access AIM users through iChat, AIM for Macintosh is often preferred because of existing file sharing issues with Apple's native IM program. In addition to "friendly buddy naming," which allows users to re-name their contacts on their Buddy list, AIM also offers multi-point file sharing. Users can also access buddies on ICQ. Get AIM for Macintosh.
- Microsoft Messenger for Mac: While it might sound a little weird running a Microsoft product on a Mac, some users prefer the Messenger experience over others for its improved support for OS X's VoiceOver features. However, compared to its Windows Live Messenger counterpart for Windows OS, that's about the coolest feature you will get with this client. A fairly clean interface and similar look for Mac make it easy to look at, however. Get Microsoft Messenger for Mac.
- Yahoo! Messenger for Mac: One of the best single-protocol IM experiences for the Mac lies within Yahoo! Messenger for Mac, which was nominated for the "Best Mac IM" category in the 2008 IM Best Awards on About.com. Offering access to Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger contacts and a wealth of exciting features which mirror its Windows and Linux-based clients, this is one IM that delivers. Get Yahoo! Messenger for Mac.
Multi-Protocol IMs
- Adium: Often referred as the beauty and brains of the Mac IM world, Adium is considered by many in the industry as the best instant messenger for Mac computers today. Unlike its single-protocol competition, Adium offers users access to contacts across ever major IM network, in addition to a few obscure ones. Users will fall in love with its clean interface, bevy of features and the efficiency of running a single client to IM with every imaginable contact. Get Adium.
Web-Based IMs
- Web-Based IMs allow Mac users to access all their favorite friends across multiple clients without having to download or install an actual application. Users can access these services by signing in to their IM services via their web browsers, where IMs can be sent and received directly from a client website. These clients are easy to use and free to join.
Portable IMs
- Adium Portable: Want to take along the client About.com readers called the Best Mac IM of 2008? With a few adjustments, Adium can be installed to a USB flash drive allowing users to take their favorite client on-the-go for use on public Mac computers. [Editor's note: This will not operate on a Windows/Linux OS]. Get Adium Portable.
