Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AOL IM for Mac SUCKS

B

buckuxc

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 28, 2003
207
0
hey all,

Can someone please explain to me why AOL IM (not AOL the service, just the IM client to be clear) for Mac OSX sucks so much? It "unexpectedly quits" on me about 6-7 times a week. It doesn't matter what utilities I run, it still does the same thing. I'm using Panther on a 12" 1GHz G4 Powerbook with 512MB of memory, so that shouldn't be a problem. I know there are other (better) clients out there, but neither Adium X nor iChat support links in the profile (at least yet).

What the hell is the deal with AOL IM? Does anyone else have this problem?

sps
 
buckuxc said:
hey all,

Can someone please explain to me why AOL IM (not AOL the service, just the IM client to be clear) for Mac OSX sucks so much? It "unexpectedly quits" on me about 6-7 times a week. It doesn't matter what utilities I run, it still does the same thing. I'm using Panther on a 12" 1GHz G4 Powerbook with 512MB of memory, so that shouldn't be a problem. I know there are other (better) clients out there, but neither Adium X nor iChat support links in the profile (at least yet).

What the hell is the deal with AOL IM? Does anyone else have this problem?

sps
Click to expand...

The AOL client for Mac has always sucked. Can you just load it to do your profile and then run Adium or iChat?
 
Now iCal is crashing

Sorry about that, I must have missed that part of the forum rules.

Anyway, as far as I know if I load it into my AOL IM profile, it won't appear with the other clients, I've tried.
 
Yeah. AIM for mac really sucks. I do find it funny that the major feature that keeps you from moving from one client to another is the lack of links in your profile...
 
i have reasons...

Putting links in my profile isn't a major feature, obviously. But I keep a site full of photos from various events, trips, meets, etc. for everyone to see, and it helps to have the link in my profile so that those who are not so internet-savvy don't have to rack their brains remembering where the pictures are (you'd be surprised how many people my age, whether on my campus or elsewhere, that hardly know anything beyond simple IM, browser, and email use).

So yeah, it's kinda frustrating that I can't put links in my profile using Adium X or iChat, despite those being incredibly good programs.


sps
 
and what's the deal with...

AOL only allowing 200 buddies on the buddy list? Is that only a limitation of the AOL IM client or the service itself? If it's the service itself, will that ever be changed?

Buddies add up quickly...


sps
 
It's not the best but I don't think that it has ever crashed on me. Still, I use iChat to avoid the overhead the advertising adds to the systems.
 
buckuxc said:
AOL only allowing 200 buddies on the buddy list? Is that only a limitation of the AOL IM client or the service itself? If it's the service itself, will that ever be changed?

Buddies add up quickly...


sps
Click to expand...

it is server side and I dont think it will ever be change. Most people who get that high just need to go though an clean up there list removing names they never talk to or never will again (key word MOST)
 
buckuxc said:
Putting links in my profile isn't a major feature, obviously. But I keep a site full of photos from various events, trips, meets, etc. for everyone to see, and it helps to have the link in my profile so that those who are not so internet-savvy don't have to rack their brains remembering where the pictures are (you'd be surprised how many people my age, whether on my campus or elsewhere, that hardly know anything beyond simple IM, browser, and email use).

So yeah, it's kinda frustrating that I can't put links in my profile using Adium X or iChat, despite those being incredibly good programs.


sps
Click to expand...

for your info, having a link that is a word doesn't work in adium but using the full internet address does.

I use adium and have the text "Fluidvision.net", whenever I view my profile that shows up as a link to http://fluidvision.net automatically.

I believe this is the same with any link you use.
 
Right click/bring up a context menu in the profile entry field in Adium to get an "Add link" command.
 
To clear up the profile thing...AIM profiles are stored client-side, so whatever you enter into one client will not have any effect when you're using another client. If you use Adium, Proteus, or Fire, you can set your profile in the prefs somewhere, but with iChat you can't.

But yeah, like others have said, don't waste your time trying to use the piece of crap that AOL manages to put out, obviously open-source clients like Fire or Adium, or shareware clients like Proteus, are bound to be far better (and they are). I use Adium, but try all 3 (and iChat if you must), see what you like best.
 
FredAkbar said:
To clear up the profile thing...AIM profiles are stored client-side, so whatever you enter into one client will not have any effect when you're using another client.
Click to expand...

You meant "server side" I think. I swap clients all the time, without need for re-writing my buddy list. I know for certain ICQ does this.

FredAkbar said:
If you use Adium, Proteus, or Fire, you can set your profile in the prefs somewhere, but with iChat you can't.
Click to expand...

I prefer fire--no smilies, no BS, no insecurity. Just works and lets me force fonts and set colors to my liking. It also handles ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and probably others simultaneously and discreetly. To be honest though, I haven't tried the others--just tried Fire and I didn't need to see any more.
 
What I do is run AIM below iChat so I can have a profile. Just sign on both programs, but set AIM to allow no instant messages. You still send/receive all your IMs in iChat, but your profile is provided by AIM.
 
buckuxc said:
AOL only allowing 200 buddies on the buddy list? Is that only a limitation of the AOL IM client or the service itself?
Click to expand...
That is an official limit, as Timelessblur mentioned. I know someone that has more than one account on iChat because her buddy list is more than 200 people.


7on said:
I just use iChat and treat my status as a profile - sorta.
Click to expand...
Mysterious link
 
Use iProfile. It will create a profile for you, which everytime you log in to iChat will be created. It can be updated without exiting iChat. Great little doohicky.
 
Err... check out my above mysterious link. It links to a thread that has a direct link (from yours truly) to iProfile. How quick we are to notice...once you notice. :D
 
NusuniAdmin said:
Please watch what you type more carefully!
Click to expand...

What did he do? What? "Hell" is a naughty word now? Can we say "Heaven"? :confused:

So very confused...

Yes, AIM is terrible for OSX. Sadly, none of the AIM clients 'do it all' really. Not until Adium adds voice and video chat...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back