Windows Live Messenger Reviewer's Comments
Get real face time and see the real deal, with video chat. Now with Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger you can skip the fake personas and pics and chat through your webcam. Our “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” winner can open all of your lines of communication, so you can IM your friends, share pics or video chat with the folks, anytime, for free.
Taking after its predecessor, MSN Messenger, this software lets you chat with anyone, anywhere—free! Live Video chat? No problem! Windows Live Messenger lets you conference with your contacts instantly. Enjoy pc-to-pc calling, text messaging to cell phones, and talking to your Yahoo! Messenger buddies.
Windows Live Messenger has an easy-to-use, customizable interface that makes chatting with your friends a piece of cake. The program will log on by itself when it detects an internet connection or when you initiate the program yourself. There are several ways to organize your contacts and adding new ones is easy. Windows Live Messenger also has links to several other sites like FOX Sports, CNBC, Rock Star: Supernova and more built right into the messenger interface for quick access to entertainment and news.
Features:
Windows Live Messenger has tons of features that let you customize your messenger and chat nonstop. Along-side the standard text communication, you can enjoy emoticons, file sharing, voice and video chat, and much more. You can create your own space on MSN Spaces where you can set up your own blog, online profile, friend contacts, music lists and more.
You can change the color of the messenger window or apply a theme from an assortment of Theme Packs to make your messenger really speak for you. There are tons of different themes to choose from including hip-hop, Sony pictures, Clinique and more so you will never run out of ideas. Several tabs within the messenger take you to different websites such as Xbox, Match.com, eBay and several others.
Windows Live Messenger doesn't have preset chat rooms that you can access from the messenger window available on the software, but you can create your own with your friends. Just invite them all to one session and you can all talk together from anywhere in the world. Or you can visit MSN chat rooms at www.chat.msn.com.
With Windows Live Messenger, you can make a pc-to-pc call anywhere the Verizon network goes for a small fee. Also, Windows Live Messenger now lets you add buddies from Yahoo! Messenger, so you can have even more people to talk to.
Video Features:
Windows Live Messenger received our top rating for video features with its live video anytime, anywhere. Some video chat programs require you to record your video and then send it, making real-time chatting via video impossible, but with Windows Live Messenger, you don't have to wait; just take a few minutes to set up your camera, and you're ready to go. In addition to live video, you can resize your video window within the messenger so you can work on other things while talking, or let several people view live video on a larger screen.
Help/Support:
Microsoft offers a FAQ/knowledgebase that covers almost any topic. They provide a feedback form online as well. However, no telephone support is provided.
Summary:
For those that chat with buddies, work associates, or anyone else, Windows Live Messenger is for you. With a plethora of customization options and communication methods, you can talk freely with anyone whether it is through video chat, voice chat, instant message or any other form of virtual communication. For the ultimate chat experience, Windows Live Messenger can provide it.
