[inbox] OT: Chat Networks Used

[jb]

green_man wrote:

>
>
> Joe wrote, On 12/22/04 10:18 PM:
>
>> While we're on the subject.  I know what an instant messenger is, but 
>> that's all I know about them.  Mozilla comes with Chatzilla, but I 
>> don't know how to configure it.  Any pointers on how to do that, a 
>> good howto article, or a reason why I should try to install gaim, 
>> etc. instead would be appreciated.
>>
>> Are instant messaging and irc's two separate things?  I need basics.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Joe
>
>
> Joe-
> Sounds Like you're at about the same point I was a year ago.
> I think of instant messaging  like an e-mail client - if you know a 
> specific person's address, you can communicate with only them 
> *instantly*.
> No batching or message queues for delays, like e-mail, though.
> That's about the extent of my IM knowlege, because , as I said, I 
> haven't used it.
> GAIM sounds like it can run all the "proprietary" IM clients inside 
> linux, so it's probably really great.
> Several creators of live CDs that I have thought it worthwhile to 
> include.
> The GAIM users in the list can probably expound it's virtues. :-)
> [If some one could show *me* about GAIM, I'd love it.]
>
> IRC [internet relay chat] is more similar to a web browser - you log 
> on to a server, then a channel, and everyone on the channel can see 
> what  you type.
> You log on with commands, or in CZ, at least you can hit the"links". 
> You will need to choose a "nickname" that you will be known by on the 
> channel.
> You can send a private message to someone logged on to the channel, 
> like IM, though.
> You can be logged on to many channels simultaneouslyon different tabs, 
> and recieve messages from each, which can get confusing, if you have 
> too many open.
> Mirc is apparently the most popular chat client, but you have to *BUY* 
> it, and ChatZilla, in the spirit of open source, is free, and now even 
> included.
>
> I have CZ 0.9.46, which runs in Moz 1.0, Netscape 7.0 and FireBird 
> 0.7,but I'm sure it's evolved since then.
> Bob Ginda's site [CZ's creator] is a good starting point.
> http://www.hacksrus.com/~ginda/chatzilla/
> <http://www.hacksrus.com/%7Eginda/chatzilla/>[If that URL gets 
> "escaped" that's a tilde, the linux "home" symbol, or gamer's 
> "console" button, in front of ginda.]
> >From there, you can find FAQs, and links to basic IRC sites.
> If you want, e-mail me off the list, and I can send you the results of 
> a weekend of searching and reading various FAQs, copying and pasting 
> info I found useful as an IRC newbie, condensed down into a couple of 
> text files.
> When I started with CZ, there was no "installer" and prefs had to be 
> editted manually, so I e-mailed Bob Ginda, and he got me going far 
> enough that I could ask questions on theChatZilla channel.  
> irc://irc.mozilla.org/chatzilla
>
> If you have questions about specific prefs, I can probably help.
> Here's a bookmark I have called "ChatZilla Prefs" , dated 12/13/03.
> It's from "silver", ChatZilla's co-developer's website. He helped me 
> too - those CZ guys really cool !
> http://www.warwickcompsoc.co.uk/~silver/mozilla/chatzilla/prefs 
> <http://www.warwickcompsoc.co.uk/%7Esilver/mozilla/chatzilla/prefs>
>
>-- 
>The sole purpose of my life is, apparently, to test my sanity. 
>
>Scott
>Netscape 7.0 Mail
>  
>

I use GAIM but I don't usually have it on. If you install Netscape with 
AIM and get a screen name, it works for GAIM too and the buddy list 
loads up without adding them manually. If you already have a AIM screen 
name like I did, you can use it as your Netscape screen name. I'm using 
RH9 and was having a little trouble with GAIM so I had to downgrade it. 
I upgraded my kernel and I upgraded GAIM and it appears to work right 
but I haven't tested it to be sure. It sure comes in very handy when you 
need to chat semi-real time. It is worth the effort to install it even 
if you don't use it all the time like me. I know that isn't much info 
about it but you more or less have to try it out to see if it is 
something that you like. My screen name is TickerTape2000
john