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December 25, 2001
Well, we've spent a lot of time checking into software use to chat with
friends, business associates, etc. and here's what we found (many thanks
to my friend Randy Strong and his brother Rick for assisting in the
effort). There are a lot of chat programs out there. Surprisingly, there
are huge differences between them. We didn't test that many. We tried to
focus first on free stuff and then on affordable software worth paying for
to increase quality.
In order to chat with someone online, you have to connect to a server
which actually runs the software which allows people to chat both via
keyboard and also using voice and/or voice-video. We also wanted to find
out compatibility with things such as ADSL.
All the software has one thing in common, you need to only have one
person talk at a time. The sound can produce bad echos and lags if two
people try to talk simultaneously.
First we'll talk about what we found with MSN Messenger. This program
is a free download and is easy to install. It is mainly for setting up
your own list of "buddies" to communicate with. You have to set up a
hotmail account which is used to allow you access. There are not any open
chat rooms to easily click and go to in order to participate in
discussions. As far as communicating via keyboard, this program is
compatible with all types of connections, but, that is where compatibility
stops. The voice requires you to connect only with a modem. If you want to
use video, it interfaces with Microsoft Net Meeting and again, must use a
modem connection, ADSL will not work. The sound quality when we tested it
was terrible, bad echo and delay problems. Many times you sit there
listening to your voice going through to the other person with a delay of
a few seconds. Very hard to carry on a conversation due to the echo and
delay.
The video in Net Meeting is OK but not great. There is considerable
delay and resolution is not the best. Microsoft has had a lot of problems
with their servers and many times you can't even log on to a server.
Next we'll discuss Yahoo Messenger. This software is free, very easy to
download and install and setup. You need to set up a Yahoo free e-mail
account for the service. It seems to work equally well regardless of
whether you're using a modem or ADSL. The sound quality is comparable to a
face to face discussion. The video is not as good as Net Meeting and has a
delay of almost 2 seconds so you need to be careful about moving around
too much. The detail is not very good but is better than nothing. You can
also check out a considerable list of chat rooms, but be aware, there are
some pretty racy subjects.
Icons tell you if a person has voice and/or video available. You can
have private chats or setup your own public or private chat rooms. This
software is pretty neat for the price. I recommend using the talk button
when you are in a conversation. The hands free tends to echo if you happen
to have two people try to talk at the same time but is great for when you
are going between different screens and need the freedom to talk while
doing something else.
We did not test the AOL Messenger and there are also a host of other
programs available now. I was really looking for something small, simple
to use, and easy to install. My recommendation right now is get Yahoo
Messenger.
Conclusion: There are good and bad points about all the software.
Everything is affected by the Internet traffic and therefore it is best to
use when traffic is lighter. I'm assuming results with Road Runner cable
service is comparable with the ADSL but I can't guarantee it since We
didn't have this configuration to test.
Are you new to computer chat? Have you been wondering what all the
abbreviated terms mean? Well, here's a list of some of the terms to help
you get going. You can either browse the list, or click on the letter of
the term you are trying to locate.
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
AFK = Away From Keyboard
AKA (ASAP) = As Soon As Possible
A/S/L = Age/Sex/Location
ATTY = A Thousand Thank YousBAK = Back At
Keyboard
BAS = Big A** Smile
BBL or BBL8R = Be Back Later
BBN = Bye Bye Now
BBS = Be Back Soon
BEG = Big Evil Grin
BF = Boyfriend
BFN = Bye For Now
BIBO = Beer In, Beer Out
BOF = (Birds of a Feather) An informal discussion group formed
around a specific narrowly focused issue.
BRB = Be Right Back
BTSOOM = Beats The [Stuffing] Out Of Me
BTW = By The Way
BWL = Bursting With Laughter
C&G = Chuckle and Grin
CICO = Coffee In, Coffee Out
CID = Crying In Disgrace
CNP = Continued (in my) Next Post
CP = Chat Post(a chat message)
CRBT = Crying Real Big Tears
CSG = Chuckle Snicker Grin
CT = Cutie
CUA = Commonly Used
Acronyms (OR Common User Access)
CUS = See You Soon
CYA = See Ya
CYAL8R = See You Later
DH = Dear Hubby
DLTBBB = Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite
DW = Dear Wife
DYS = Describe Yourself
EG = Evil Grin
EME = Email Me
EMSG = Email Message
EMU = Email You
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions
FC = Fingers Crossed
FTBOMH = From The Bottom Of My Heart
FU = F*d Up
FUBAR = F*d Up Beyond All Re-cognition
FUD = Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (or Disinformation)
FWIW = For What It's Worth
FYI = For Your Information
*G* = Grin
GA = Go Ahead
GAL = Get A Life
GD&R = Grinning, Ducking & Running (after a snide remark)
GF =
Girlfriend
GFN = Gone For Now
GMBA = Giggling My Butt Off
GMTA = Great Minds Think Alike
GN = Good
Night
GTSY or G2CU = Glad To See You
H&K = Hug and Kiss
HABU = Have A Better 'Un
HAG1
= Have A Good One
HAGD = Have A Good Day
HAGN = Have A Good Night
HAGU = Have A Good 'Un
HAHA = Having A Heart Attack
HHIS = Hanging
Head in Shame
HTH = Hope This Helps
HUB = Head Up Butt
IAE = In Any
Event
IANAL = I Am Not A Lawyer (But...)
IC = I See
IDK = I Don't
Know
IGP = I Gotta Pee
IMCO = In My Considered Opinion
IMHO = In My
Humble Opinion
IMNSHO = In My Not So Humble Opinion
IMO = In My
Opinion
IOW = In Other Words
IRL = In Real Life
ITL = I Totally
Agree
IWALU = I Will Always Love You
IYKWIM = If You Know What I
Mean
IYKWIMAITYD = If You Know What I Mean And I Think You Do
JJ =
Just Joking
JK = Just Kidding
JMO = Just My Opinion
JTLYK = Just To
Let You Know
KIT = Keep In Touch
KOC = Kiss On Cheek
KOL = Kiss On
Lips
*L* = Laugh
L8R = Later
L8RG8R = Later Gator
LHM = Lord Help Me
LHU = Lord Help Us
LMAO = Laughing My A** Off
LMBO = Laughing My Butt Off
LMHO =
Laughing My Head Off
LMSO = Laughing My Socks Off
LOL = Laughing Out
Loud
LOTI = Laughing On The Inside
LSHIPIMP = Laughing So Hard I Peed In
My Pants
LSHMBB = Laughing So Hard My Belly is Bouncing
LSHMBH = Laughing So Hard My Belly Hurts
LSHTTARDML = Laughing So Hard The Tears Are Running Down My Leg
LTMS = Laughing To My Self
LTNS = Long Time No See
LTS = Laughing To Self
LUWAMH = Love You With All My Heart
LY = Love Ya |
MHOTY = My Hat's Off To You
MTF = More To Follow
MYOB = Mind Your Own Business
NADT = Not A Darn Thing
NETUA = Nobody Ever Tells
Us Anything
NFW = No [bleeping] Way
NP = No Problem
NRN = No Reply Necessary
OBTW = Oh, By The Way
ODS = Okey Dokey Smokey
OIC = Oh, I See
OL = Old Lady (significant other)
OM = Old Man (significant other)
OOTB = Out Of The Box (brand new)
OTOH = On The Other Hand
OTTOMH = Off The Top of My Head
*POOF* = I have left the chat
PDS = Please Don't
Shoot
PEKUSH = Press Every Key Until Something Happens
PIMP = Peeing In My Pants PITA: Pain In The A**
PM = Private Message
PMJI (or PMFJI) = Pardon Me (For) Jumping In (to join a running
discussion politely)
PMP = Peed My Pants
POAHF = Put On A Happy Face
POV = Point Of View
PPL = People
QSL = Reply
QSO = Conversation
QT = Cutie
ROFLAPMP = Rolling On The Floor Laughing And
Peeing My Pants
ROFLAU = Rolling On The Floor Laughing At You
ROFLMAOAY = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off At You
ROFLMAOWTIME = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off With Tears
In My Eyes
ROFLUTS = Rolling On The Floor Laughing Unable to Speak
ROTFL =
Rolling On The Floor Laughing
ROTFLMAO = Rolling On The Floor
Laughing My A** Off
ROTFLWTIME =
Rolling On The Floor
Laughing With Tears In My Eyes
ROTFSWL = Rolling On The Floor
Screaming With Laughter
RSN = Real Soon Now
RTF = Read The Facts
RTFM = Read the F*ing Manual
RTM = Read The Manual
RUM = Are You Married?
RUS = Are You Single?
*S* = Smile
SETE = Smiling Ear To Ear
SHID = Slaps Head In Disgust
SITD = Still In The Dark
SNAFU = Situation Normal, All [Fouled] Up
Snail Mail = U.S. Post Office
SNERT = Snot-Nosed Egotistical Rude
Teenager
SO = Significant Other
SOHF = Sense of Humor Failure
SOT = Short Of Time
SOTMG = Short Of Time Must Go
SPAM = Stupid Person's AdvertiseMent
SWAK = Sealed With A Kiss
SWAS = Scientific Wild A** Guess
SWL = Screaming With Laughter
SYS = See You Soon
TA = Thanks Again
TANSTAAFL = There Ain't No Such
Thing
As A Free Lunch
TCOY = Take Care Of Yourself
TGIF = Thank God
It's Friday
TIA = Thanks In Advance
TIC = Tongue In Cheek
TILII = Tell It Like It Is
TLA = Three-Letter Acronym (such as
this)
TMI = Too Much Information
TNT = Till Next Time
TOY = Thinking Of You
TPTB = The Powers That Be
TTC = Trying To Concieve
TTFN = Ta Ta For Now
TTYL = Talk To You Later
TY = Thank You
TYVM = Thank You Very Much
WAG = Wild A** Guess
WB = Welcome Back
WRT = With Respect To
WTG = Way To Go
WTH = What/Who The Heck (or sub an 'F' for the 'H')
WTII = What Time Is It
WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get
YBS = You'll Be Sorry |
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Note: All information provided in The Help Desk web site is in easy to
understand terms, in my opinion only, and may not necessarily be the only
accepted answers or advice. I will not be responsible for any problems
caused from anyone making any configuration or hardware changes to their
computer system resulting from information obtained from this web site. Please contact me prior to using any content from this web site.