I really don't like AOL Instant Messanger.
Compared to icq it really sucks. There's no message history so you
actually have to pay attention to the people you're talking to. If
your computer crashes while you're away, you'll never know what messages
you had from people before the crash because of the no history thing too.
Plus, you can't send people offline messages with AIM which means that
every tiny little message you wanna leave for someone has to be e-mailed.
Or else you have to just wait for them to come online. There's always
the option to call them, but if their family is anything like mine, they'll
never get the message. Another thing I don't like is the way the
chats are set up. When using icq, if someone sends you a message
it doesn't disturb your computer. A little message will blink in
your taskbar. You then have the option to wait until you are finished
with whatever it is you're doing before you open the message. With
AIM the message automatically pops up. It's an invitation for surrounding
family members to read your messages! How annoying.. Anyway,
for those of you that prefer that, you can send people chat requests on
icq which will do the same thing. However, with AIM, there is no
option. Plus, with ICQ you can pick and choose who you want to be
"visible" to. You can go "invisible" where no one can see you and
then pick certain users to add to your "visible list" so that only they
can see you when you are invisible. You can also put certain users
on your "invisible list" so that when you're actually online they can't
see that you are online. You can still see that they are online,
but to them it looks like you are offline. The only thing you can
do with AIM is block people, which sucks cuz what if you only want one
person to be able to see you? What are you gonna do, block your whole
list except for that one person? AIM sucks.
I have to admit though, AIM came through for
me in a few areas. For some reason I can't transfer files with people
on icq anymore.. One day that just stopped working out of no where (cuz
sometimes ICQ sucks too), but I can still do it using AIM. Another
good thing about AIM is that the messages are actually instant whereas
with ICQ you have to wait for them to send (although there is still the
option of a Chat which would be instant, but I rarely use that).
And the third good thing about AIM is the buddy icons. I love making
them and seeing all the different ones people use. Which is why I
decided to make this page. I was making an icon for my friend Mike,
and then I decided to make a bunch of them. I like the one I already
made for myself, and I don't plan on changing it for a while, so I decided
to put all my new ones up so all you wonderful people out there can use
them. :) All I ask in return is that you sign my guestbook or email
me, and let me know which one you're gonna use.
For those of you who don't know how to use these buddy icons:
1. Right click the picture.
2. Click Save Image As
3. Chose a filename for it and click Save it in your AIM directory. It doesn't REALLY matter where you save it as long as you remember where it is.
4. Open AIM (if it's not already opened)
5. Open the My Aim drop down menu at the top of the AIM window
6. Click Edit Options
7. Click Edit Preferences
8. Click the Buddy Icon tab
9. Click the words "My Buddy Icon"
10. Click the button that says "Browse PC"
11. Find the picture you just saved and double click it
12. Click okay
Here's an example of what a buddy icon (one I used to use):
(It's the little picture in the bottom left hand corner)
Okay, here are the icons.. Some of them are pictures I took, and some are from stuff I found on the internet. There will be more as often as I make them.. don't forget to let me know which one you use if you use one!
