Roo’s Ramblings

One of the annoyances of using someone else’s PC is that you often don’t have access to all the software that you have become accustomed, if not reliant on. This is even worse on machines in net cafes or work PCs that are restricted.

I recently wanted to get access to an IM client at work that could cope with multiple protocols. I could have installed GAIM, but the truth be known, I shouldn’t install anything on my work PC, and if I do, and get work, there has to be a damn good reason (i.e., it’s essential for my work!)

So, I’ve turned to the AJAX revolutionaries for help, and wasn’t disappointed when I found a site called Meebo. It’s a cool little site that bulges with AJAX goodliness. You get a pretty reasonable IM client all within your web browser, without all the Flash and Java applet complications. It just works! Sometimes I forget that this is all HTML+AJAX (and some nice graphic design). Very clever stuff, I thought.

You can just specify the login details for the IM network(s) of choice and it logs in for you. If you wish, you can create a Meebo account, which saves all the IM details, and so you can login to your usual accounts with a single username. Handy.

There is still some work to do with Meebo. I personally don’t like having lots of individual chat windows opened, but rather a tabbed interface that I can switch between (which is how I normally have my IM client open). You can’t do anything other that basic chatting, like web cams, file transfers, etc. Although, I quite like its simplicity, it’s refreshing.

Give it a whirl if you get caught out without your favourite IM app.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 10th, 2006 at 10:50 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.