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Well, I was just chatting to someone... and I really like this program. It's simple, it doesn't have any bloat, it looks quite pretty (the chat window particularly) and you can see when the other person is typing (one of the features I like from MSN).

It doesn't have smilies or display pics but it seems to work quite well. However, not being able to send files does seem like a limitation. I am really looking forward to this and hope it develops well - Google are one of the few brands that could actually challenge the rest (who keep adding bloat and don't seem to care about their users).

My Rating: 8/10

I think it should have the following features:

1: File transfer - Required!

2: Emoticons - Any messenger without emoticons gives the user an impression it is old.

3: Avatars - Only if the option can be hidden or turned off to keep the minimalism look.

4: Conversation logging - Password protected would be nice too.

5: Webcam support - Replacing the avatars possibly.

6: Font - Colour, face, size and B/I/U

7: Multi OS support - Linux, mac etc.

8: Different account types - @notonlygmail.com

9: Member profiles - This would encourage users to meet other users.

..anybody want anything else?

I like it, the client is very light weight (only a few extensions to the protocol, e.g. voice, wich also works with ichat)

and people talking about avatars and emoticons, at the moment, jabber doesnt have official avatar support, individual clients have implementation, but i think google are waiting for a official standard (which would be good for users)

I would like to see this implemented in gmail, see when users are online and send them im's, for example.

Edit: i found this Jabber client, supports Avatars and has a nice ui, http://www.pandion.be/

Edited by The_Decryptor

Hang on, just one minute ladies and gentlemen...

If I had written this client, you'd all be saying "Meh, needs a lot of work" - let's be honest, Google Talk has NO FEATURES whatsoever.

Given that Google has written it, you're all having orgasms. I just can't see anything that would make me want to use this over another IM service.

Given that Google has written it, you're all having orgasms.

586424641[/snapback]

You can't prove that.. I hope. Anyway, generally Google puts out good products.. Picasa, Google Earth etc. So when people see them release an IM client, people get excited to see what Google has done.

Edited by pipdipchip
You can't prove that.. I hope.  Anyway, generally Google puts out good products.. Picasa, Google Earth etc.  So when people see them release an IM client, but get excited to see what Google has done.

586424648[/snapback]

Hehe no you're right, Google DOES put out great products, no denying that. I just think people are perhaps going a little crazy over something that, in truth, has little to say for it other than simplicity.

I think it should have the following features:

1: File transfer - Required!

2: Emoticons - Any messenger without emoticons gives the user an impression it is old.

3: Avatars - Only if the option can be hidden or turned off to keep the minimalism look.

4: Conversation logging - Password protected would be nice too.

5: Webcam support - Replacing the avatars possibly.

6: Font - Colour, face, size and B/I/U

7: Multi OS support - Linux, mac etc.

8: Different account types - @notonlygmail.com

9: Member profiles - This would encourage users to meet other users.

..anybody want anything else?

586424419[/snapback]

10: Free Unlimited PC-Phone Calling to anywhere in the world

Hang on, just one minute ladies and gentlemen...

If I had written this client, you'd all be saying "Meh, needs a lot of work" - let's be honest, Google Talk has NO FEATURES whatsoever.

Given that Google has written it, you're all having orgasms.  I just can't see anything that would make me want to use this over another IM service.

586424641[/snapback]

Personally, if you had developed this client, then I would use it still.

For me I think it is a good effort, and although I miss one thing (sorting contacts into groups), it isn't missing anything essential.

That is the problem I have with MSN/AIM/Yahoo!, they all have way too many features that are basically useless. Avatars may be nice admittedly and File Transfers would be good but other than that it seems like an extremely good program!

You can't prove that.. I hope.  Anyway, generally Google puts out good products.. Picasa, Google Earth etc.  So when people see them release an IM client, people get excited to see what Google has done.

586424648[/snapback]

Buying and rebranding products is easy.

Google Earth (Keyhole) and Picasa were bought and rebranded, nothing more.

And honestly this client stinks, it doesn't support anything. We live in 2005 and clients as MSN and Yahoo support very nice things (sure, sometimes too much things)... Google can and should do much better!

Just wondering, are they trying to compete with Skype + AIM/MSN?

I love google's products, but is it really necessary? Maybe they could have collaborated with Skype instead. It's going to be a pain having 3 messengers. I just want one: MSN.. if it were a little less bloated.

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