Windows Live Messenger Information
Instant messaging is one of the cheapest, most effective ways to stay in contact with family and friends all over the world. Windows Live Messenger, like many other instant messaging programs, is free, and has a world of features to enhance communication. Before using it, it's a good idea to find out its features, including its pros and cons.
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Benefits
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Besides being completely free, Windows Live Messenger makes communication simple and reliable because you can download and use the program virtually anywhere there is a Windows computer. It does not require any additional hardware to run, and allows you to communicate with family and friends all over the world. Windows Live Messenger now even allows you to chat with people on a different instant message program such as Yahoo! This benefit makes it possible to stay in contact with people who prefer not to change their instant messaging program.
Features
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Besides the standard instant texting, Windows Live Messenger also allows you to send emoticons which are used to convey a current emotion. Windows Live Messenger also includes video chatting capabilities that allow you to see your buddies using a webcam as you chat. The file sharing features are some of the most popular because they allow you to share pictures and other files very easily. You can also use Windows Live Messenger to send SMS text messages to cell phones.
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Installation
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Windows Live Messenger is a large application that consumes volumes of system resources; therefore, it is important that your computer has the necessary hardware to run it. To Run Windows Live Messenger, you need a computer with Windows XP and higher. You also need a computer with a minimum of 1GHz processor speed and 512MB of RAM. A monitor display of 1024-by-768 and higher is also essential, especially if you plan on video chatting. If your computer meets the requirements, you can download and install the program easily and begin chatting.
Warnings
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While video chatting with Windows Live Messenger is the most exciting form of chatting, it is also the most dangerous; therefore, you should be extremely careful with whom you chat. It is also important to avoid typing personal information such as credit card numbers while chatting to decrease the chances of the information falling into the wrong hands. If you allow children to use Windows Live Messenger, monitor their conversations and the people with whom they chat so that they are not exposed to pedophiles and Internet predators.
Expert Insight
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After installing Windows Live Messenger on your computer, disable the auto-launch feature from the "Preferences" list, especially if you have a slow computer. When Windows Live Messenger automatically launches at computer startup, it consumes volumes of system resources even when you are not chatting, and can slow down your computer. If your computer does not meet all the system requirements needed to run Windows Live Messenger, you may still be able to install it, but you should close all other programs when you use it to avoid running into freeze problems.
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