14 June 2007Pidgin 2.0.1

Pidgin is a multi-protocol Instant Messaging client that allows you to use all of your IM accounts at once. Formerly known as “GAIM” (name change due to legal reasons) - I’ve been using this software since I started using Linux, with GAIM being included in the Ubuntu Distribution installation, it was the first MSN Messenger client I used, and is the one I’m using right now, whilst typing this blog.

Over the months, it hasn’t changed an awful lot. It’s always been a simple program, and never had many “features” as such to brag about. Certainly the MSN Messenger functions, which, alongside the IRC functions are the only ones I am familiar with, are limited compared to alternative software GAIM 2 BETA came in Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft, which isn’t all to dissimilar from Pidgin, which may contribute to my thoughts of it remaining the same over time.

Alternative choices in Linux IM applications are numerous, and include Kopete, aMSN and KMess, all of which I’ve tried, and ditched, Kopete because it seems to crash often when run in GNOME and aMSN because it’s ugly as sin, and horribly slow when forced to use decent font rendering, and KMess because of it’s lack of tab support in conversations, and huge, disgusting notifications that still pop up, even when disabled, for some reason.

I understand Pidgin will be included as an upgrade to GAIM in Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon. Many Ubuntu users still use GAIM, it’s IRC support is good for accessing Ubuntu help channels, and many people don’t value the added features of other MSN Messenger clients. I think it’ll be well received with the Ubuntu community, many members of which have already upgraded, as it’s nice new icons and “light” feel really add to the beauty of the Ubuntu operating system, they’re a good match.

And of course Pidgin also is still good for AIM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, and Zephyr. Quite an impressive list, especially for people who use more than one and can combine lots of confusing contact lists into one, easy to use one. I do however believe the long list of supported protocols is what brings on the short list of features, it’s certainly not the developers at fault, it’s clear they are very talented, but it’d be pointless spending time adding feature for one protocol when it’s completely useless in the others.

Pidgin is nice. It’s clean, and well laid out, and the new GUIfications (”toaster” style notifications) are a great new feature, which can be customized well, probably the best addition to the software in this release. I wouldn’t, however choose to use it any further than I have to this date (been using it for a couple of weeks now, moving on toward KMess 1.5, ), simply because of it’s lack of features for my most used protocol, MSN Messenger. It still doesn’t have the option to nudge, change a personal message, view other people’s personal messages, add custom emoticons, talk using voice or webcam, most of which are supported by Kopete, and all of which are supported by aMSN. It’s great for someone using multiple protocols, and great for people who’s friends are on Linux, but when your Windows Live Messenger friends are telling you to check out their personal message, and asking why you won’t accept webcam, it gets a little tedious explaining, and at times swapping around applications.

Links:

• Pidgin Homepage
• Download Pidgin (for Windows, Linux (source or complied for Fedora/CentOS)
• Download Pidgin (from GetDeb, Debain installation file for Debain/Ubuntu)
• Download Transition Package (Install after installing Pidgin to replace GAIM on Ubuntu)
• Adium (Pidgin for Mac OS X)