iChat

This application is a real blast! (Oops our age is showing.) Believe it or not, but we have never used any on line instant messaging or chat application before testing iChat. So, perhaps, our neophytic enthusiasm should be tempered a bit. We used to exchange emails among editors and reporters to put together each day's edition of Macs Only! but no longer. iChat has revolutionized our communication. It's fast, more like talking on the phone or radio, really, since communication is not fully duplexed. But it's so much better than trading emails across the country when discussing things for the next day's edition. A little warning though, it's also addicting. Chatting away with someone far away and can consume a lot of time.

iChat is simple to set up although not as intuitive as it could be for first time chatters. First, you and those with whom you wish to communicate over iChat need a .mac email address, $99 or $10 if coupled to another .mac account, or a free AOL AIM (AOL Instant Messaging) address. When iChat is first launched the setup for yourself is fairly easy to follow. Just be sure that if you use a .mac email address instead of an AIM address that you select mac.com in the popup window and not AIM. If there are others on the local network that you want to iChat with, you can also enable Apple's Rendezvous. However, this is unlikely unless you are on a network in a large organization on several floors. iChatting with your significant other across the room seems like the ultimate geeky relationship and you both may want to seek counseling.

After setting up iChat, a dialog balloon icon appears in the menu bar that allows you to select whether you are available to chat, away temporarily or offline. If you are on line and have selected available, then your .mac or AIM name is highlighted to others who may have you listed on their Buddy List. iChat also launches Buddy List and, if selected and set up, Rendezvous List windows. "Buddies" that you wish to chat with are added by clicking the "+" at the bottom of the Buddy List window if you are on line. The dialog box that pops up allows you to select from those in your Address Book or a new person not in your Book. Don't fill in the AIM field unless the person has an AIM address. The names on your Buddy List are dark if the people are on line and available, otherwise they are grayed out.

Sending messages is simple. Just click on the name of a Buddy who is on line and available and click on the "!" icon at the bottom of the window to open a chat window. Click on the typing entry field at the bottom, type a message in it and hit return.

One problem is that the typing field is very small, just one line. It's too easy to type several lines before looking up to check what you've done only to find them already hidden. Too bad the field isn't expandable.

TIP: While the typing entry field is quite small, you can scroll through your message to correct it before sending it by using the "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys on your keyboard. Make sure the typing field is selected because the page keys also work on the balloon message field if it is selected.

iChat can be customized in many ways in its preference pane and Custom Buddy Lists can be created. iChat is not as flexible (complicated?) as other chat applications but play with it. We think you will enjoy the experience.