AOL AIM 5.5

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CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
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Product summary

The good: Free; technical support available via Web and e-mail.

The bad The bad: Plain, unattractive interface; annoying advertising and scrolling stock ticker.

The bottom line: Despite several business-oriented add-ons, AIM 5.5 is a free and versatile instant messenger that's best suited for AOL home users. That said, we like Yahoo and ICQ even better.

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Stephen Bigelow
Edited by: Robert Vamosi
Reviewed on: 08/24/2004
Released on: 05/28/2004

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) 5.5, has plenty to offer, including standard chat functions, streaming video, and online games, as well as several business-oriented extras. Its uninspired interface and wanton advertising, however, are annoying. AIM 5.5 is free, but you must register your new instant-message (IM) account with AOL before downloading the client (current AOL customers can use their existing AOL credentials, of course). Because of AIM's overwhelming popularity, picking an unused screen name is a challenge; it took us longer to select an unused name than to actually install the software. (If you're really stuck, AOL will select a unique screen name for you.) You can download the latest release of AIM 5.5 from Download.com. Once registered, the 3.99MB self-installing file downloads and installs in less than five minutes.

AIM 5.5's basic interface is straightforward and now allows for multiple screen identities. Say you have one screen name at work and another screen name at home; you can now link them so that whenever you log in, both names become active; moreover, the contact list you keep for your at-work identity now becomes available at home as well. Contacts within AIM are called buddies, and lists of these contacts occupy the middle of the display, subcategorized into groups such as Family and Co-Workers. To send an IM, simply click the contact list name or the IM icon at the bottom of the display to enter the recipient's name. Unfortunately, AIM accounts won't work within other IM clients--ironic, as AOL also owns ICQ--but you can use software such as Trillian to mix messengers.

Unfortunately, AIM 5.5 doesn't let you customize much. You can download expressions, which are nothing more than custom wallpaper for AIM. Although the plain window interface is as attractive as Windows Notepad (that is, not very), our only serious interface complaint is the distracting banner advertising that runs across the top third of the display. A scrolling stock ticker across the bottom is also visually distracting.

The basic AIM 5.5 interface is simple and straightforward, in spite of its prominent advertising.

With a Webcam, Windows XP, and a broadband Internet connection, AIM will now send streaming video messages, à la Yahoo Instant Messenger. AOL users can also access their e-mail within AIM. AIM includes several online games; simply challenge one of your online contacts, and both scores are displayed within the AIM interface. Games cost $19.99 each; however, many allow for periods of free play, and Reversi and Checkers are always free to play.

You can also set AIM to send messages to your mobile phone, so you can send and receive instant messages while away from your PC. If your chosen buddy has enabled the file-transfer feature, you can send and receive files via AIM. You can also visit any of the infamous AOL chat rooms for public and private conversations. When you receive a message, a system tray notification appears with the name of the sender, so a quick look will help you decide whether to respond immediately (by clicking the tray notification) or wait till later. Finally, if you're away from your home computer, AIM Express lets you access your buddy lists and send and receive IMs from any Netscape- or Internet Explorer-enabled PC.

See more CNET content tagged:: AIM 5.5,; AOL Instant Messenger,; instant messenger,; America Online Inc.,; streaming video

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2.0 stars

"Use the AIM network; not the AIM program."

by jesusmcrighteous on December 15, 2005

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