iChat - what use is it?

[spiff101]

Why should I use iChat? Is it better than Skype for videoconferencing with multiple people, for example?

Right now I just use skype. I have only 1 buddy who's on a mac, the rest on PCs. Can I AV chat to the PC users using iChat? What do they have to do in terms of getting accounts to make that possible? Should I use iChat over Skype for talking to other mac users?

cheers

spiff

[eric2006]

For iChat with video, I think you need AIM or .Mac. PC users with AIM should not be a problem.

[spiff101]

Thanks..

and should I be trying to get my PC-using friends to sign up for AIM, or just continue with Skype? Are there significant advantages to using iChat over Skype?

[Thank The Cheese]

I wonder if adium will ever support Skype IM down the line? That would be fantastic.

both skype and iChat have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are minor. I dont think one is superior enough over the other to recommend really. I think use whichever one you have the most buddies on, which sounds like Skype.

I prefer iChat myself, but my reasons are very small and personal, and may not be relevant to you.

The little things that I like about iChat:
- It's light weight. Not that skype is much more resource hungry, but iChat is a little simpler. I'm not after fancy features.
- I love the fact that iChat lets you know when a user is typing their message.
- Perhaps the best (if little) feature of iChat for me, though, is the fact that you can embed an image in the message itself. That is, if I am talking about my dog, I can paste a picture of him in the picture above or below the text. In Skype and most other IMs, you have to send pictures over as a file transfer; the receiver has to download it to their desktop, then open it up, which is a pain. I send a lot of images over IM (usually instructional screen shots of my desktop to help my sister figure out how to use her new Mac) so this is a great feature for me. Me and my IM buddies also have a lot of fun with google images that way. For example, if I'm telling someone I am angry, I can do a quick Google images search for "angry" and drag and drop an amusing image to express my anger. OK, it's a little geeky and stupid, but it can be a laugh. This wouldn't work in Skype as having to save the image to the desktop and open it kind of kills the joke.


but overall I do find skype more stable in the sense that it rarely drops messages, and if it does, it will tell you. I have issues with iChat dropping messages quite a bit, though this may be an ISP issue.

Also, Skype has the icon of the dancing man, which is outstanding

[spiff101]

thanks. any pros and cons from the AV side of things - can anyone compare videoconferencing between skype and ichat, for instance? or just 1-to1?

cheers

spiff