Facebook Chat

[iloveconor.com]

Isn't it the best thing ever?

[David]

I've been signed in via Digsby and haven't felt a need to IM anyone... I already have contact information for people I'd want to IM. it's nice, I suppose, but I wouldn't miss it, if it disappeared.

[Jeff]

I like that Facebook Chat doesn't require installation of anything -- it's just "there." Some people really don't like that because they find it intrusive, but I find it convenient.

Is it the "best thing ever?" I'm not so sure. I don't like that if you navigate away from Facebook.com, you're essentially "offline." As Dave noted, Digsby makes it possible to chat with your Facebook friends without that constraint, and it now appears that Facebook will be opening up Facebook Chat to any third-party developer who's interested.

It's interesting, but mainly because Facebook has so many users. There's nothing particularly remarkable about the product itself.

[iloveconor.com]

Originally Posted by Jeff

I like that Facebook Chat doesn't require installation of anything -- it's just "there." Some people really don't like that because they find it intrusive, but I find it convenient.

Right, they did it the correct way and not some MySpace IM way.

[JessicaH]

I actually don't like the facebook chat thingy. I don't like that, when you're typing a message, it pops you out of the window when the person you're talking to sends you a message. REALLY aggravating.

I have a friend who has been using Digsby and he's had a lot of issues with it. Today, he was able to send me a message but my replies came back as undeliverable.

[AwesomeSauce]

Digsby isn't the only IM client that you can connect to Facebook with. If you're a Pidgin guy like me, you can acquire a plugin that integrates the facebook chat protocol right here. It's easy to install and works seamlessly.

[tyrocks00]

yes! love it! i talk to people all over the country!

[imguide]

I recently named Facebook Chat the worst IM of 2008 on my blog because of the fact that the "red box of death" always pops up. I wish they would fix it, because of the two major social networks, I'd say Facebook is my favorite. (I hate how cluttered MySpace gets).

But, I know many who are opting to leave Facebook for MySpace whereas it used to be the other way around. Its pretty sad, I guess, if you are Facebook.

[detn8r]

Maybe Americans. I feel that, like AOL/AIM it has a large base in the US but the rest of the world have MSN and Facebook.

I see a lot of people balancing both Myspace and Facebook, but people tend to herd like animals. They go where their networks are. People left Myspace for a reason. I don't know what that reason was -- new, younger people could use it who knows. But maybe now, with Myspace getting more public attention by celebrities and a lot more similarities between the two, it's leveling out.

Facebook will never lose the majority of the people who use it. I see Myspace as a very adolescent networking site. Facebook on the other hand is very professional looking. Based on networking rather than a race for the most friends.

BTW, imguide, did you actually place Facebook chat up against the giants of Windows Live Messenger, AIM and Yahoo Messenger? That's pretty lame.

If anything, I would have given it the best new IM of 2008 -- with a LOT of room for improvement. Actually, that gives me an idea for a thread here at BBB

[kelseyc]

I really like Facebook chat since one of my good friends (and former roommates) can use Facebook while she's at work. This lets us talk online (I use Digsby) and stay in touch, even though we live over 2 hours apart.