- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP
- Date added: April 29, 2004
- Total Downloads: 15,500,035
- Downloads last week: 72,972
- See full specifications
A newer version of MSN Messenger (Windows XP) is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 472 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
This program improves on its predecessor, MSN Messenger, with the ability to share folders and files locally with fellow users. Windows Live Messenger also serves up the standard emoticons, multiplayer-only gaming, free PC-to-PC calling, mobile phone messaging, and video chatting in a full 640x480-pixel screen. VoIP capabilities allow you to call telephones around the world for a fee, although you can't receive inbound calls from landlines or cell phones.
During the quick installation, Windows Live Messenger offers optional shortcuts, a sign-in assistant, and Rhapsody music software, as well as the ability to change your Internet Explorer home page to MSN. You can store up to 600 contacts, integrated with your Windows Live Mail account. We found the integration a bit heavy-handed, especially when links opened in IE rather than our default browser. Also, like most dedicated chat clients, the program is a memory hog.
The Sharing Folders feature lets you and your buddy transfer files by displaying a mirror of each others' files. You can drag and drop files into the chat window or Sharing Folder. Microsoft includes a free scanner for checking files for viruses, but it didn't recognize our Symantec AntiVirus. It's unclear whether the shared files are stored on both computers or on Microsoft servers, but you can access the files offline. We wish help were offline, too, especially since the online help is so general. While Windows Live Messenger isn't yet the ultimate communications hub, it's a solid, fun, multimedia chatting tool.
Watch the CNET video review of MSN Messenger (Windows XP):
Publisher's description
From Microsoft :MSN Messenger is an instant-messaging program that notifies you when your friends are online so you can send messages or chat with several friends at once. In addition, MSN Messenger notifies you when you have new e-mail in your Hotmail account and allows you to access your inbox with the click of a button. You have full control over who can contact you and view whether you are online. At any time, you can see a list of all users who have added you to their lists, and you can easily block them if you choose to do so. You also can invite someone in your list to meet over the Internet or to play an Internet game using NetMeeting. The program will even notify you when someone you are communicating with is typing so you can avoid overlapping messages. MSN Messenger also offers integration with Outlook Express 5.0.
You can visit chat rooms and join in, arrange your contacts into groups, select emoticons from a drop-down list, and get quick access to all MSN Messenger's features with a single click. The latest version features miscellaneous minor updates.
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User reviews of MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 472 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 75 user reviewsSee all 75 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
"if you have tried MSN Messenger 7.0 you'll know it is a big improvement"
Pros: try the msn messenger 7.0 beta just go to google and search msn messenger and click where it says try the new msn messenger beta
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
Pros: Great program, especially if your a student who wants to arrange a night out with friends or just not go out at all and chat instead through the computer instead. Has some good features, for example you can appear offline, meaning you don't have to be pestered by people instead only login once that certain person you want to talk to has (although that can backfire if their doing the same thing)!
Cons: You can download the new MSN Messenger Beta which has loads of cool new features, so go check it out!
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Version: MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
"Quite good but needs some more features"
Pros: I liked this becuase it is a simple program which enables me to talk to lots of people easily. It supports voice and video conversations which weren't as good as I would of hoped for, but the inclusion of these features can't be faulted.
Cons: This program needs lots of new features such as the abilty to rename contacts so you dont have to see thier irriating display name in the main window. Also it needs the ability to sign in with a certain status (which is coming in msn messenger 7). It also needs improved voice and video support otherwise people will switch to VoIP technology to have voice conversations over the internet.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
"Not so good, but cannot help using it."
Pros: Total fits the Download.Com's description of 3*s.---
this is a decent, solid program. It has no major flaws, but it didn't knock my socks off. There may be similar programs that work better, have more features, or are easier to use.
Some how, I have an attachment ot this product. I tried trillain and found out that the(trillian) interface was very user-unfriendly. THis may not be due to the fact that trillian is indeed user-unfriendly, maybe it is just because of the familarity to this product.
Used by many, thus, it is more pratical to use this rather than ICQ or Yahoo!
Cons: No special features. File transfer is incredibly slow. Never succeeded in starting an audio conversation.
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Version: MSN Messenger (Windows XP) 6.2
Pros: Excellent IM client & proves to be a popular choice today.
Cons: New betas of MSN 7 may look too busy & complex. But this version seems to be OK.
- See all 75 user reviews Write review
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