Pidgin is an all in one instant messenger. Formerly known as Gaim but because AOL’s instant messenger (AIM) has similar name, they’d to change the name and they chose Pidgin. By all in one instant messenger, I mean that it supports and allows you to login to multiple networks, i.e. using Pidgin only you can access and chat with your friends on Yahoo messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk and lot others. Lets look at the PROS and CONS of Pidgin. We know that it has got one huge benefit, that it is a all in one messenger but is it good or not, lets find that out :
PROS of Pidgin :
1. All in one instant messenger : This is the best feature of Pidgin as you can log in to multiple networks at one go. This not only saves you from installing multiple softwares but saves memory too. As you just have to run one software instead of all the messengers. It supports Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu Gadu, IRC (these being the popular ones) and many more.
2. Less Memory Usage : Pidgin uses around 24 Mb of memory and considering the fact that it is the only software which you’ve to run for chat and not multiple softwares. This saves lots and lots of memory and people like me will certainly find it very useful.
3. Extend-able through plugins : Pidgin gets better with the help of various plugins and that gives boost to this program’s profile too. Any program which can be extended is always better than the ones which can’t have plugins. So, if you are missing a feature in Pidgin, then you can always look for a plugin for it (although you may not find the one, which you want but chances are you’ll find one or there will be one under development…always think positive).
CONS of Pidgin :
1. Not so impressive interface : The interface of the software is really not impressive. Developers have tried to keep it as simple as they could but it is not the easiest of all too. One has to spend some time with this software, in order to ensure that the person can access all its features.
2. No support for audio or video : Pidgin doesn’t have any functionality where one can make use of VoIP features of the networks or the video conferencing of the networks. This is a real big negative of pidgin. Even there is no plugin for the same.
Overall rating & views :
Pidgin is a multiple network supporting messenger with the basic functionalities and a product which heavily depends on its plugins. Pidgin can be useful for those users who are not into all those frills and who are not interested in the audio and video functionalities but want a messenger which can support many networks. If that’s your requirement then its definitely worth a try but you may not like the interface too.
Links : Pidgin Homepage
Related posts:
I’m one satisfied Pidgin user. I’ve used for extended periods of time over the years other IM clients, many with tons of features in comparison. In that time I realized what made a good IM client. It’s isn’t so much the number of features, but the quality of those features and the relationship they have to instant messaging. This is something you completely failed to realize in your review. You simply don’t get what make a good instant messaging application.
Most IM clients have major downsides.
Here are some I’ve noticed:
1. Buggy
2. Bloated and slow
3. Unnecessary & irrelevant features
4. Missing features directly related to IM (aliases, spell check, multiple networks etc)
5. Costly
6. Annoying advertisements
7. OS dependent
Well, I agree that with Pidgin you just get a simple interface and it is not at all buggy but the points which you’ve mentioned above are absolutely coorect! Pidgin is a great software but you’ve to also make sure that the ease of use has to be there. A new computer user will never find it easy to use Pidgin as compared to any other messenger. Don’t you agree on that point?
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The pidgin interface is not all that bad. Prettier interface usually means more bloat which means more memory consumption. I’ve been using pidgin (formerly gaim) for several years now and I have used all the proprietary IM utilities like AIM, Yahoo and MSN. I bounce between Linux and Windows and don’t like OS-dependency, I don’t like to have a different IM client for each IM protocol and I don’t like my IM utility to take a minute to fire up. These are the TOP 3 reasons why pidgin is my number 1 choice of instant messaging utilities. As for audio and video conferencing…I have a cell phone for audio, and for video, I don’t know if I’m ready for the world to see my mug on their computer screen.
Want to conect pidgin
pidgin crap
i used it for years
Nothing better than this !
Using it from past two years, and still prefer to use it, instead of the fact that alternative native IMs are installed.
I agree that the interface is not "that bad", but it lacks any degree of customization. I know I'm not the first person to complain that the list isn't compact enough. Buddies' names take up 36 pixels vertically, in contrast to Trillian's 18. It doesn't seem to me that it would be so difficult, or would bloat the software to any degree, to offer some choice in this matter. As it is, I like the way Pidgin runs and behaves best, but I dislike the bigness of the stock interface enough that I prefer to use something else (Trillian). It's sad, but I'm confident that eventually this aspect will be improved.
Yup.. it's still my favorite messenger till now for years…