aol.co.uk/aim (Instant Messenger) > Reviews (58)

AOL have done something that would (and should) turn Bill Gates Green with envy. What a fab service! It's fast, fun, easy to use/install, availible the world over and is an easy way to meet new people.

Being new to all this computer malarky, I's grasped the basics of AOL, and found my way into chat. AOL's chat is well designed, just a shame they can't controll the people in them! I find the chats often are led away from the theme, with a lot of messing about in them. Still, the people are friendly enough, and their is a reporting system and strict rules so it's OK I suppose.

Anyway, you go into an (AOL) chat room, find someone you click with and simply click on their screen name. Then send an instant message (refered to as IM), and your away. All the usual font, smiles, ect. are there, along with your name and the person's name clearly posted, so you know who's sayed what. The only thing I find a bit anoying is that tapping 'enter' acts as a return key, and so doesn't send the IM. The mouse is used to send it which, even if it is really petty, anoys me 'cos I often foeget about it! Oh, and another thing, you can't change a profile (ie. a nickname along your screen name like my screen name is BucMarcus but I often want to be know as 7sefton), and you don't know when another person is typing a message or has stopped talking to you.

The service I have got is always good, even if the help is a bit intimidating with the reels and reels of black and while. But it's really simple to grasp. The first time I recieved a IM it cama almost as nature to type in the box and click send (I'm a bit slow you see!), which I was happy about.

Some of the smiles look a bit evil though...

All in all a very good service which knocks MSN into shame.