iChat with AOL

Hi guys,

I will hopefully be ordering a PB when Tiger is released on Friday, to use at University later this year, to talk (video and audio) with my parents online.

I've read that iChat AV works with AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), which is a program in it's own right - but does it work with just normal IM via the AOL software interface (as my parents are AOL members). Or would they have to download AIM and use it on it's own?

Any problems known with doing this? Any other programs recommended for video + audio between a Mac and a PC?

Many thanks,
Matt.

ichat just uses your aim account, not the app itself, though it is available.

So to use iChat, you have to have an AIM/AOL account? Can it not work with another account, for example .Mac?

In an ideal situation, I would be using iChat on the Mac, and my parents would be using the IM feature built in to the AOL 9.0 software on their Windows PC - would this work? As opposed to them having to load up AIM as a separate program to talk with me...?

Thanks.

iChat works seamlessly instant messaging with any other AOL Instant Messager Clients such as AIM, gaim, Adium, Trillian, etc. You need an AIM Screen Name to use iChat.

yup, and it also uses .mac accounts.

To note, the latest AIM version I downloaded crashed quite often while i never have any problems with iChat.