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MSN offers an official chat client that can be used for chatting on MSN. This chat client, produced by Microsoft and available to download for free, is the chat client most commonly used, simply because it is the default client. While it has all of the standard chat features that most people need, some people dislike the ads that are displayed on the client because they can be disruptive when you are trying to have a conversation. If you don't mind seeing ads, and you want a quick way to set up a MSN chat, this client is perfect for you.
Pidgin is an extremely popular chat client that works on both Windows and Linux. It is open-source software, meaning that it is freely shared, its source code is open for anyone to look at and it does not contain advertising. Pidgin is unique in that it supports several different chat protocols in one, so you can talk to your friends on MSN, Yahoo, AIM, and several other networks, all from one client. This makes Pidgin very popular with people who have contacts spread across different networks, or who want an ad-free MSN chat experience.
Trillian is a commerical chat client that supports MSN Chat and several other types of chat protocols, just like Pidgin. However, unlike Pidgin, Trillian is a commercial product and costs money to purchase and use. The main advantage of Trillian over both Pidgin and the official MSN Chat client is that it is updated regularly, and has many advanced features and options that are not available in the official MSN Chat client. The look of this client is also much different than others, as it takes a minimalist approach and does not contain any advertising. - As with any activity online, you should be aware when you are chatting on MSN. You should avoid giving out your screen name to people you do not know, and use caution if you are messaged from someone you do not recognize. MSN Chat, just like any other chat protocol, can be abused, and it is important to remain vigilant while you are chatting.
- If you are talking with someone on MSN Chat and want to save your conversation for later reference, you can turn on auto-logging on most chat clients, or you can simply copy and paste the conversation into a text file. If you are talking to a loved one or close friend and want to preserve the conversation, this is the best way to do it.
