First issue; I've downloaded all of the standard chat software that offers a Mac counterpart and I've discovered that even though the distributors make a Mac version, that version doesn't always have all the features of the Windows ones. For example, I stated that Yahoo had Yahoo Games integrated with the chat client, well, the Mac version of Yahoo is nothing more than a simple client capable of sending and receiving messages and files. All other features of Yahoo chat that are in the Windows version are inexplicably missing. And I say inexplicable, because I believe those games are in Java, a multi-os platform, they apparently just got lazy about their chat client for their Mac users. Incidentally, Google Talk is only available as a web based app for Mac.
MS Messenger is simple to begin with, so there were few changes in the Mac version. You're not missing much by not having it and strange enough, the yahoo client for Mac can use windows live. iChat can connect to several different servers too. As a matter of fact, the only 2 programs that can connect to more than one service at a time are iChat and Adium. So, while Adium has the distinct disadvantage of not being able to send and receive files (there are actually mixed results with that) it does have the great advantage of Trillian in that it can connect to almost any chat client and maintain several logins to the same one at the same time. Plus, Adium is definitely a Mac app in that it is fully skinable and has an appropriate menubar icon, etc. And I have to say, the skinable options make it soooooooo much better than the others. It looks better and is much less intrusive as my contact list sits in a smoky gray box on my desktop, see the images below. The first image is just my desktop as a whole, the Adium contact list sits in the upper left. The second image shows a closeup of Adium. The important part is that you can't do this with any of the other chat clients, including iChat. This is a very strong case for Adium as most users want a chat client that integrates nicely and is unobtrusive while still being personalized. Adium is simply the only chat client to achieve these goals.
So, how do I handle the issue of not being able to send and receive files? Well, as inconvenient as it is, I often use the regular yahoo chat client for that. I've looked into other options such as web based file storage but the free ones are very limited and require that the person retrieving the file also sign up, plus that method is slow.
Me: "He, I'm sending you a file, go to this website in a few minutes to download it. It is called abc.jpg."
My Friend:"Where is it again, I can't find it?"
Me:"Click on the link that says Downloads and go to My Pictures, then to ....."
You get my point.
I've considered FTP type solutions as well, again, most people don't even know what FTP is let alone how to use it. Plus, they're not likely to want to download a new program just so they can access your personal FTP space. The chat clients really do make things easier. Most people I chat with already have Yahoo installed. I can talk to them in Adium and if they want to send a file I can open the Yahoo chat. It happens so rarely that there is no need to start with that. Supposedly, Adium will have support for sending and receiving files, when that day comes I will be overjoyed. Until then, I guess I have to put up with the fact that most software designers don't want to include Mac when the majority of their users are PC based. Again, I could start with the Yahoo client, but Adium offers skins and the ability to connect with several chat services. I love this because I can choose in one program what IDs are online and which are not. I can have multiple logins on a single service thereby separating my professional, family, and social lives. In short, Adium is the king-god chat app for Mac. At least for now.
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