CNET Editors' note: Beta or prerelease software is not intended for inexperienced users, as the software may contain bugs or may potentially damage your system. We strongly recommend that users exercise caution and save all mission-critical data before installing or using this software.
CNET Editors' review
With so many ways to network and socialize online, you may find it difficult to keep track of everything. Digsby promises to help keep chat, e-mail, and social networking conversations in one convenient place, but it didn't work exactly as we expected.
This freeware program looks a great deal like other popular chat programs, such as AIM. With a skinny rectangular box running along the side of your computer, a prompt to add accounts helps you get started. From here you will find a menu of seven different IM programs to choose from, six different e-mail programs, and four different social networking sites. When selected, each simply asks for your log-in and password and connects to the system. Your various programs are displayed, with IM buddy icons separate from e-mail and social networking e-mails.
Single-click or mouse-over the name of the person you want to chat with to access IM options, including SMS, e-mail, and file transfer. Double-click to initiate an IM chat, while the context menu offers those options as well as buddy-specific history logs. The e-mail service will open your default e-mail client, although you can preview your Webmail in-box through the Digsby contact list. Facebook users can update their feeds, check their friends' feeds, and get full feed streams in Digsby, and the program now supports MySpace IM, as well. If you have a lot of IM accounts to keep in one place, this freeware tool can help keep you organized.
Users should be aware that Digsby now calls out all of its bundleware during the installation process, so install with caution if you don't want the Ask.com toolbar or the grid computing protocol. This is a marked improvement from when Digsby only allowed opting out after the program was installed, so we're more comfortable recommending the program once again.
Publisher's Description
From dotSyntax:
Digsby helps you manage all your IM, e-mail, and social network accounts from one easy-to-use application. Digsby lets you chat with all your friends on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Facebook Chat, and Jabber with one simple to manage buddy list. It provides notifications when new e-mails arrive and lets you perform actions such as "Mark as Read" or "Report Spam" without having to go to your inbox while also keeping you up-to-date on what's happening on your social networks with pop-up notifications and a news feed of recent events for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and MySpace.
What's new in this version:
Bug Fixes
* Fixed Hotmail login, which broke due to a protocol change on their end
* Small change to Facebook Newsfeed to bypass a server problem they've been having
More Popular Chat downloads
- mIRC
74,275 downloads
- Paltalk Messenger
55,897 downloads
- WebcamMax
33,089 downloads
- Yahoo Messenger
26,491 downloads
- Windows Live Messenger
13,074 downloads
-
All versions:
4.0 starsout of 160 votes
-
Current version:
3.1 starsout of 7 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-7 of 7
-
"Great multiprotocol client, nice and free"
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
Easy to use
Multi protocol (I use it for my ICQ, GTalk & Yahoo IM accounts)
Works fine out of the box w/o expert settings tweaking
Ads in the conversation thread can be easily turned offCons
Ad in the conversation window
-
"Do not install this cheat program to computer"
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
Do not install this cheat program to computer
Cons
Do not install this cheat program to computer
Summary
Do not install this cheat program to computer
-
"Installs malware."
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
It did not burn my house down.
Cons
I had to use Revo uninstaller to get the gunk off that it installed.
Summary
Update / Warning: Revo did not find everything and I still have malware that I am trying to track down.
Updated on May 13, 2011 -
"Great Integrator for Instant Messaging"
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
- Looks great (many skins in the settings/preference)
- Supports group chats, video or audio chats, file transferring, etc.
- integrates email and Facebook stuff in addition to instant messagingCons
- you have to create an account with them
- there are adds in some places like the chat area
- you have to be careful in the installation not to download a bunch of crap ( like one of the guys before me mentioned)Summary
The comment the person before me had is definitely something to consider or be carefully. I think you can opt out of the background stuff and i know you can opt out of the toolbars and stuff. As far as I know, I have avoided the background stuff. My antivirus program has not identified any suspicious processes and i have not noticed anything unusual either. Digsby does not seem to use very much of my system resources at all either.
-
"Probably won't install it once knowing what really does"
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
Multi protocol and lots of customizing.
Cons
Installs lots of "optional" software that you don't really want. Uses your processor when idle to work on their own stuff.
Summary
There are way better IM clients out there and from developers with more transparent policies.
Excerpt from the TOS:
You agree to permit the Software to use the processing power of your computer when it is idle to run downloaded algorithms (mathematical equations) and code within a process. You understand that when the Software uses your computer, it likewise uses your CPU, bandwidth, and electrical power. -
"Great for multitasking and huge time saver"
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
- Great User interface and functionality
- View Email and FB newsfeed with a single click.
- View new FB and twitter posts as pop ups
- Setting up the account takes secondsCons
- Ads with every chat window
- I don't like very much how video/audio chat work, but it's okay
- No online or iphone versions yetSummary
Aside from the Ads at the bottom of each chat conversation, I really find it to be a great piece of software. Totally worth trying
-
"Like it so far, just started using the product."
Version: Digsby build 89 (beta)
Pros
don't know
Cons
don't know
Results 1-7 of 7
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
