Another poll I wanted to conduct:

What's your favorite IM (Instant Messenger) program/application?

Which IM programs do you use?

Which IM do you use the most?

I'm cognizant of:

-AOL IM (does AOL even exist anymore?)
-MSN IM
-Yahoo! IM

What other IM applications/software are out there?

...does Google have an IM? How about Facebook; have they released an IM that can be used without logging onto their site?

I'm trying to get hip with the times; help a guy out, eh?

I never use Instant Messengers anymore nowadays.
There used to be a time when I was really into MSN, but that was many years ago.

I have the impression it's more about Facebook and Twitter nowadays.

Pidgin as an app. And it hooks into all major IM clients. Even facebook.

I use adium, which acts kind of like a mac middleman so I don't have to use shitty MSN. This is when I do decide to go online. Facebook is nice, but I'm considering getting rid of mine.

I also use Pidgin, but only for AIM. It's the network all my homies are on and I've never had reason to use another. Still use the same screen name I've had for 11.5 years.

Pidgin all the way for me too.  It's open source and supports plugins, two things I love.  Even though it can connect to just about every major IM network on the planet, I only use it for AIM.  I don't know anybody who uses any other IM service so I have no need to use any of them either.  I used ICQ for a couple years before AIM was released (1997-1998) and then I was AIM-only from then on.  So I've been using AIM with the same screen name for almost 12 years now.  This thread makes me feel old.

Adium over here. It connects to everything including Facebook.

Adium and Pidgin, eh?

Anybody got links for official downloads of these software?

I don't like IM's at all, and very rarely use MSN Messenger to talk with few people. Though if you can count IRC (or mIRC) as somekind of instant messenger, then that's my favorite one.

http://www.pidgin.im/

Pidgin is the project formely known as gAIM for Windows, but they made them change their name.

I prefer sming myself. It's not out yet, though. (Fans of Vernor Vinge will know what I'm talking about.)

I've been using Meebo.com. When I built a new PC I was so anal about installing too many programs and couldn't decide on which client was best, so I used meebo as a holdover... and eventually just stuck with it. It's not the most robust, but it is convenient in that all my settings are saved and accessible wherever I go, without having to download onto other machines (such as at work).

http://adium.im/

Wait, Adium's for Mac only?

Since Adium and Pidgin can connect to the same networks, can users of Adium and Pidgin still connect with each other?

I wouldn't call myself a fan. I had to force myself to read True Names.

None installed right now.

I used to use ICQ way back when that first came out, back in the college days when it wasn't a big thing to be tethered to a PC all day.  These days I see very little need for an IM service, and use Offline connections in person.