iChat/MSN Messenger

Right, first off I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place.

anywho, I am currently contemplating a Macbook and I wanted to know what kind of instant messenger type applications I could use with it.
I know that Macbooks use/can use iChat, but will that still work with my hotmail email account, and will I be able to chat to my mates who use MSN messenger on their PCs?

If not... will I be able to download and install MSN messenger onto the Macbook without risking any illeffects?

Cheers
x

You can use Adium which will connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Jabber ....

Or just get plain old MSN for Mac. Not video support sadly, but it does the trick if MSN is what you want!

will they make msn on mac capable of using webcams?

There's a current program called aMSN that I think allows the viewing of webcams.. and I got my webcam to work it once if I recall. It isn't the best, but it does sort of things the Mac Messenger won't (nudge, winks, sound clips and more). I personally don't like the feel of it so I stick with the Mac Messenger when it comes to MSN. Only downsides are no webcam, no soundclips, no MSN plus, nudges and more.

But I think you can use Adium for MSN which is ok.. I don't think MSN goes with iChat though. If you're looking to cam, I'd say go with stickam.com or another webcam-based site.

Hi, you could use Skype like I do and I also use Yahoo Messenger which has webcam settings.