For Mac users the world over, ‘iChat’ should roll off the tongue just as easily as any other piece of Apple family lexicon.
And why shouldn’t it? The moment you turn on your new computer, you can’t help but notice the tiny, inviting speech bubble icon, begging you to click on it. And the second you do, you have entered IM heaven. Welcome to iChat.
Simple and Simply Beautiful
Apple’s bundled instant messaging client bundled with every Mac should serve as an inspiration to all other IMs on the plaform. This client alone sets the bar for what instant messaging should be, as nothing else can come close to iChat’s ease of use, stability and seamless integration with the Macintosh platform.
The interface is sleek and simple, with little instruction needed for use. Shiny status gems easily display the availability of your buddies, with status and picture displayed right along side of the gems.
The most common types of chats are listed at the bottom of the buddy list window, allowing for quick access to text, audio, video, and (for Mac OS X Leopard users) screen sharing. To increase the ease, any buddy that supports audio or video chatting will have a large green phone/camera icon next to their name, indicating their capabilities.
And, as a client, iChat is one of the most diverse, allowing users to connect using your existing AOL or .Mac account screenname. Simple.
The Verdict
Chatting is a pleasant experience, with the ability for tabbed chatting, file transfers, and the new feature of “/me” IRC style messaging. The animations are fluid, with windows resizing to fit new chat members, or shrinking with their departure.
One of iChat’s greatest features is its integration with the Macintosh operating system. iChat seamlessly syncs with your Address Book contacts, which means when you add an AIM username to someone’s Address Book card, it is added/updated in your buddy list, automatically. It’s this attention to detail that makes iChat a blast to use.
iChat’s only real downfall is its occasional failed file transfer, usually which requires the chat to be closed and reopened to solve the issue. Not a deal breaker, but certainly annoying at most.
Overall, iChat offers one of the most seamless finishes of any instant messenger for Mac, and perhaps, across all platforms. Simply beautiful and a great IM solution. What more could you want or expect from Apple?
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Agree with our verdict? Share your thoughts on iChat on the all-new IM Forum. (Membership is free, but required to post.)
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Zachary Knight is a self-professed Mac addict and Public Relations/Marketing major from Gulfport, Miss. In 2008, Knight became an intern and associate writer for http://im.about.com.
