When the instant chat programs ICQ and AOL Messenger first came out, I looked at the literature describing what they did and thought that they were useful little gadgets but decided against using them on my personal computer because of a fear of incompatibility with the Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer. I installed AOL Messenger on my sons’ computer when they "just had to have it", and it appeared to work correctly and caused no problems that I could see on the computer. I looked at the help files and looked at the program itself and still just didn’t feel it was worth the possible problems of installing it on my computer.

I also didn’t like some of the control functions the program incorporated. Then along came MS Messenger, and it was offered as part of the automatic Windows 98 Update process. I went to the information files that described what the program was and decided to give it a try since my largest concern of compatibility was now incorporated into Windows 98 and should cause no extra problems to solve.

I installed the first version offered and have kept up with the updates that are now at version 3. The only requirement for this service is an Hotmail account or a Passport account. You get instant notification while using Messenger of any e-mail received into this Hotmail account. Your "Buddies" are completely controlled by you so that you don’t get any unwanted traffic. I have it set to " Run the program" when I am online and use it almost each time I am online to say a quick "Hi" to friends that I have met online and friends that I have locally. This is also the best way to reach me while I surf since I have a phone modem and one line only. The newer version of MS Messenger is much more than the simple "CHAT" it started out as with typed messages and has progressed to actual voice communications and more. MS Messenger now allows voice communication instead of the chat, after you use an "Auto Tuning Wizard" to set up your sound card and microphone, to talk to your friends. This is considered a "Call" from PC to PC. It takes a few calls to get used to listening through your speakers and talking into a microphone; you can purchase headsets that make it a little easier, and it does sound different from a phone, but you can communicate easily. I play cards on the web with friends in Toronto, Canada and we are able to talk to each other after the games and chitchat with ease. You can also start NetMeeting as easily as voice chat, and the one time I used it was foolproof. The choice of NetMeeting was one of the options in the drop down menu and it was a point and click to make the connection from another easy connection wizard.