CNET Editors' review
It was only a matter of time before Google got into the chat game like many of its competitors have done. Although the beta version of Google Talk is free and has no glaring glitches, its bare-bones approach makes it less of a must-have than some of the company's other downloadable products.
To use Google Talk, you must already have a Gmail e-mail account. While most resourceful users shouldn't have too much trouble finding a Gmail invite, this hurdle may prevent some folks from trying the client. The program's clean, white, ad-free interface looks very similar to other IM applications, displaying a list of your contacts' e-mail addresses and their status. Right-clicking a contact gives you the ability to change the name. Similar to other chat clients from big-name companies, Google's offering provides both text and voice-based messenging. In our tests, the sound quality of voice chats was consistently good, and we didn't experience any problems while conversing via text.
You won't find much in the way of groundbreaking features; in fact, Google Talk lacks many of the standards. For instance, you can't set a display picture, use emoticons, or view your chat history. It also would be nice if the program included a voicemail option and let you have group conversations. It's cool that the pop-up e-mail notifications show you the sender and a brief preview of the message in your in-box, but that more of a small bonus. While we're confident an official release of this program will address some of its shortcomings, there's no urgent reason to switch to Google Talk at the current time.
Publisher's Description
From Google:
They say talk is cheap. Google thinks it should be free. Google Talk enables you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free -anytime, anywhere in the world. Google Talk offers you choice. You can get in touch how and when you want to, over e-mail, IM, or a call. The application also offers you quality; you can talk through your computer and hear your friends as if they were in the same room. Finally it offers you convenience. Your Gmail contacts are preloaded into Google Talk so inviting or talking to your friends is only a click away.
Google Talk is in beta and requires a Gmail username and password.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 111 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 111 votes
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My rating:
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"GOOGLE TALK BETA RIDICULOUS!"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
I loved my Google Talk all these years with my Gmail account, it was the ONLY way you could see INCOMING email messages and know when friends have signed in.
Cons
I've had Google Talk for years, then something happened, no more Google Talk so can see INCOMING email notifications.
Either the link was broken, or I don't know what.
I HATE HAVING TO CHECK EMAIL 30x's A DAY FOR MY BUSINESS!Summary
This program doesn't work, at least NOT on my Dell GX-270 with Windows XP.
AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND MISS SEEING INCOMING EMAIL WHEN MY PC STARTS, OR WHAT EMAIL OR HOW MANY CAME IN WHILE PC WAS OFF.
~Pat B. of EL CAJON, CA. -
"Good idea. Unsatisfactory outcome."
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
Could hear well when calling from gmail via computer. Easy to use.
Cons
Took over landline. Home phone does not always ring (sometimes it seems more like a chirp). Loud static when trying to talk (caller can also hear it). Uninstalled plug-in but still having landline issues. Seems no way to correct as it's an app.
Summary
Wish I had never tried it. It's caused tons of aggravation and hours of research trying to figure out how to correct the errors of my ways.
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"Good and easy program"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
II'm using it now. Seems no barriers can stop us. Chat & talk are bring people close & they are closing banrriers, We are now global citizens or can say global humans
Cons
nothing to say
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"Ooops, I was not lucky, could not keep it"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
It did not work in my computer
Cons
It is an old version; the latest version is more sophisticated.
Summary
Did not work in my computer, don't know why.
Updated on Feb 26, 2011
Updated on Mar 6, 2011It failed to install on my system Vista 32 -
"Excellent product-perfect in every way."
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
Excellent, product no clear sound and now has a video plug in as well which works with any web browser.
Cons
None at all,except you have to have a Gmail account to use it.
Summary
This is perfect in every way,you can down load the talk strip which you can do voice chat from your desktop. But Google talk now comes with video chat,you must download the video plug in to get this. to use video chat you must open your web browser and log into your Gmail account and from here you can do a voice chat or a video chat.The sound and video is perfect but please note,you can do voice chat also from your desktop. But if you want to make a video call you must open a web browser and go into your email page after you have logged in to do this,and you can also do just voice chat,from your email page. Previously Goggle video chat only worked with Google Chrome,Internet Explorer,Chromium or Firefox browsers. But now,since all of the web browsers have been upgraded this year,you can now do video chat from most web browsers,including Flock or even Aol Explorer an old browser! There are a few unknown web browser that are still not supported by Google video chat but most web browsers are,including,Flock, Seamonkey,Opera and Lunascape.Which makes this software very handy to have,as well as the fact that it works perfectly. You get clear sound and picture and although you can at present only talk with other Google users,Google talk does allow you to send voice messages to users on other networks for example yahoo or Aol or windows Live. that is you can send vice messages to frends of other email accounts on for example Yahoo or Hotmail but you cannot talk live with them unless they get a Gmail account,which is easy to do.Also,although you have to invite the person you want to call to chat,or you have to be invited to chat,this is very easy to do. Google talk has easy links for this. It is very user friendly and the software is light on your computer. I recommend Google talk as it is very reliable and there is no messing about in getting set up,unlike a lot of other messengers.
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"Consolidate your phone services in one reliable place"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
easy to use, works by telephone or online,
Cons
none i can think of
Summary
great service. reads your emails to you if on the phone, and also provides written copie son line.
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"Clear sound, great chat, no nags, very reliable"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
very clear , very reliable, no nag screens, unobstrusive, no hangs, true multinational relialability, small quick installation, may close account if or when desired (not likely, but good to know its possible)
Cons
cant find find any with it, hope when video capability is added it'll be as good as their sound technology
Summary
Bottom line this product rates best on its kind by far, used for about 2 months and service was never unavailble and always clear, Go Google Go..
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"it is user friendly"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
very easy to control and use. It has audio and chat.
Cons
No ability to use a webcam to have a video conversation.
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"Love it! Now if only my friends used gmail"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
Amazing sound quality and voice conversations are easily done, no time limit or reduced quality for faster load times etc, real deal.
Cons
Like no one uses it -.- I tried inviting my friends who use hotmail or yahoo accounts because from the looks of it G-Talk would work cross-platform so I could talk to someone using yahoo messenger just not use any features it doesn't support. Nope.
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"I want to call my friend my family and mygirl friend"
Version: Google Talk beta 1.0.0.64
Pros
verry good and verry easy
Cons
nothing ilike everything
Summary
very good
