Is IM better than email?

[bill1001]

Do you prefer instant messaging to email? Is IM sometimes --or always-- better than email? Are there times when you only want to communicate by IM, and won't by email?

What, in your opinion, are the advantages of IM over email, if any?

I'm writing an article about why instant messaging is sometimes better than email, and would appreciate hearing from the IM pros, fans and just plain users on BigBlueBall.

--Bill Adler

[Tigerblade]

I prefer IM when I'm talking to friends -- it's quicker, easier, and more informal. I prefer email when it comes to business, employers, etc. Email lets you say more at a time, and lets you look over your words before sending. It gives you a longer chance at making sure you're saying what you want to say. Granted, you can do the same over IM, but with IM you're expected to respond much quicker.

[PolarBearNPR]

For back and forth banter, IM is certainly the way to go. For longer, informational business or other important missives, email is the way to go. I have had emails that may as well be IMs - same format, frequency, content, but the person on the other end doesn't IM. I know - hard to imagine! I find that I can't write a "good" email while IMing because the grammar, some spellings, and language are just different and one creeps into the other and before I know it - bleh - neither one communicates the way I want it to.

Also - I think folks who like paper mail, e.g. grandparents, enjoy the email with it's "Dear Gramma", indentions, and "Love you" components which are familiar to them.

Texting or SMSing is also another quick way to communicate - dunno if you want to include that in your article as well.

If you have specific questions or want to set up a poll - this is a great place to do just that! Exactly the type of stuff we love to see around here.

And by the way . . . I'd love to see your conclusions! When you get it written, if you wouldn't mind, it would be great to post here in a featured section.

[MrOats]

Originally Posted by TigerBlade

I prefer IM when I'm talking to friends -- it's quicker, easier, and more informal. I prefer email when it comes to business, employers, etc.

Originally Posted by PolarBear

For back and forth banter, IM is certainly the way to go. For longer, informational business or other important missives, email is the way to go.

Agreed. IM is the reason why I am such a quick typer these days!

[Philip]

I have to agree with you guys. IM is in real-time, which is great, especially when chatting with friends. But I would NEVER entertain the idea of IMing with my boss. Hee Hee.

Email is great for more formal communication, and especially for older folks who strangely, don't take to IM as much as they do with email. But God bless whoever created these two great communication aids. I would probably be stuck without them!

P/S Bill, I'm still waiting for your poll....

[Chris Bale]

Originally Posted by Tigerblade

I prefer IM when I'm talking to friends -- it's quicker, easier, and more informal. I prefer email when it comes to business, employers, etc. Email lets you say more at a time, and lets you look over your words before sending. It gives you a longer chance at making sure you're saying what you want to say. Granted, you can do the same over IM, but with IM you're expected to respond much quicker.

Agreed.IM is better for talking with friends,and email is better for business.BUT most time people like to use IM.

[Hasan]

Email
-- Slow
-- Formal
-- Message (1-way)
-- Detailed and formatted

IM
-- Fast
-- Casual
-- Conversation (2-way)
-- Short and plain text

This is how I chose which medium to choose.

[Jeff]

Hey Hasan! Great to hear from you!

One of my colleagues in the KM world works for IBM, and the New York Times actually wrote a story about him because he's given up email. He uses Twitter, IM and other tools to collaborate.

[kelseyc]

I really like using IM better, because I hate taking the time to write an email or pick of the phone to do something. With IM, I can ask my question or let the person know something, and then the convo is done!