DESCRIPTION:
An online service that now allows you to chat, video conference, play games, and share files with your family and friends in real-time.

SIZE:
• AIM 5.5.3595 for Windows 3.99 MB

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• Windows: Pentium processor running Windows 98/ME, WinNT4/2000/XP
• Mac: PPC running OS 10.1 -OR- OS 9 with CarbonLib 1.3.1 (or later)
• 16MB RAM
• 10MB of free hard drive space (20MB of temporary space for the installation)
• 28.8 modem
• Video IM requires Window XP

COMMENT:

AOL Instant Messenger 5.5 (abbreviated AIM) allows you to chat with your friends in real time. AIM lets you pick a screen name and a password so that you can log in. After logging in, your buddy list will appear, along with a window filled with AOL news, games, and other links. Your buddy list allows you to enter the screen names of your friends so that you can see when they are online and available to chat.

                Use these smilies and many more to communicate tone, emotion and sarcasm while typing.

AIM has an advantage over chatrooms because it is private, and each conversation is only between two people. However, you can open as many one-on-one conversations as you want (limited only by how fast you can type and how many conversations you can keep track of in your mind). In addition there is also the option to “direct connect” with one buddy. This allows you to share files, talk using microphones and speakers instead of typing, and, if you have Windows XP, even use web cameras to see each other while you talk! I love this feature.

 AIM Direct Connect window


AIM has many other features as well. There are AIM games that you can play with your buddies, or you can attach distinct sounds to buddies to know when they are available, along with many other options.


AIM games

The most popular of the options is the “away message”. It is highly addicting. When you want to remain online, but are away from your computer, you can post an “away message” (for example, “Went to the kitchen, be back in 10. Leave me a note.”) Thanks to cable Internet connections and AIM every college student I know is now able to be online 24 hours a day, and keep track of each other's busy lives minute to minute. It's ridiculous and out of control, but hey, making plans, staying in touch, and spreading rumors just got that much easier!

As a final note, in the past there have been viruses sent through AIM. Recently there was one that would contact everyone on your buddy list telling them to download a new game. If the game was downloaded, those computers would then have the virus as well. However, this does not stop me from highly recommending AIM. Simply remember, that just like e-mail, you should always check with your friends before opening mysterious attachments.