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4 stars
Version: Pidgin 2.4
"Good but needs a little more improvement."
Pros: I've used this program since GAIM and I loved it since the interface is very fast, clean, you can customize and hide or show user details. You can also choose how you want to be idled, how you want to log your history, and use tabbed IM windows. This program also lets you create temporary away messages that can be deleted easily after use. There is no mess, there are many options, and the sounds are very smooth. This program hardly uses 1/3 of the RAM AIM 6 would use.
I haven't gotten any crashes randomly either. It has an option that lets you mute the IM sounds quickly instead of having to mute everything one at the time in AIM classic and AIM 6. And this is a free product, it's worth the try!
Cons: This program does have a few problems. The first thing is, Pidgin updates constantly with new fixes, yet there always seems to be a problem with the program and there was never a time where it could be stable in one version. Also, buddy icons that are shown on your buddy list of all your buddies are downloaded into a folder in the Documents and Settings folder. It tends to clutter with multiples of the same icons. The history viewer doesn't have the option that quickly lets you remove a conversation you don't want.
There is no video or sound chat, and the direct IM connection isn't obvious. It takes a while to connect, and it doesn't show you the status (how many kb's or mb's you've already sent) of your picture file that you are sending. You also can't copy pictures and paste it onto the IM window which would be great since it's very convenient. You also can't use Direct IM to send other files (such as music, word files, etc.)
Has some strange crashes sometimes, such as when I was using Direct IM, it froze my buddy list and I had to start the program over again. My buddy icon also doesn't seem to stay on. I'd have to keep putting my buddy icon up when it mysteriously disappears.
And please correct me if I'm wrong or if there is something wrong with my computer, but the online time of my buddies on Pidgin are all 3 hours more than the actual online time. I haven't been able to figure out the problem yet.
Overall, I still say it's a great product especially for free.
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