iChat?

ogacon · Apr 6, 2008

Alright, I'm not quite sure, and haven't been able to decipher what it really is on the apple website. Is iChat the client itself, or does it just run a client, like AIM, in iChat and make everything easier? Say I wanted to video chat with someone, do we both need the same client, or does iChat allow cross client things. Thanks!

kmkl · Apr 6, 2008

i'm pretty sure that it allows cross client chat. provided they have the same messenger network...

JohnTheMacGeek · Apr 6, 2008

ogacon said:
Alright, I'm not quite sure, and haven't been able to decipher what it really is on the apple website. Is iChat the client itself, or does it just run a client, like AIM, in iChat and make everything easier? Say I wanted to video chat with someone, do we both need the same client, or does iChat allow cross client things. Thanks!

iChat is a stand-alone application that works with the AIM network. I chatted with a cousin the other day using iChat and she was on her WinXP machine using the AIM client.

ogacon · Apr 6, 2008

Alright, so I need a client in itself though? Or can I set up an iChat account as well? (it is free right, comes with iLife '08?)

AlyciaAnimation · Apr 6, 2008

I don't think it comes as a part of iLife, but it is free. There is no iChat account, you can either use your .mac account if you choose to have one, or an AIM account.

ogacon · Apr 6, 2008

Alright, thanks! That's what I was wondering. No further questions.

zimbu1234 · Apr 6, 2008

Can also use a GTalk account. iChat is just a client that enables you to chat with other services. I guess the point is that if the client you are using is capable of videochat it allows you to easily use iSight which is the built in cam. I can videochat with my AIM friends all the time. Its sweet.

Dysfunction · Apr 6, 2008

yea, but can you share your desktop, or other media with AIM? That's pretty much the only thing I actually use iChat for.