Pros & Cons
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- Deftly combines multiple IM services, social networks, and e-mail account interactions.
- Clear, customizable interface.
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- Somewhat slow to startup and display chat window.
- Offers a lot of unnecessary software when you install.
Digsby (Build 60, r22564) Specs
| Free: | Yes |
| OS Compatibility: | Windows Vista |
| OS Compatibility: | Windows XP |
| Type: | Business |
| Type: | Personal |
| Type: | Professional |
After years of using Trillian, I've recently switched to Disgby, a multi-service IM client that's a tad more modern. Though still in beta, the software has been available since March 2008. My major beef has been slowness of startup and displaying windows, and this release improves performance by 50 percent. In addition to excellent support for a number of protocols, Disgby has another cool trick up its sleeve: nifty integration with social networks that lets you keep up with your
Setup and Signup
You don't need to sign up for a Digsby account as you do with
Not having to sign up for a Digsby account is great, but there's a "but." When you install Digsby, you're offered "piggybacking" software such as toolbars and system cleaners. I understand that pays the bills, but the seven the install pushed on me seems excessive. One other drawback the software shares with Trillian is a slow start-up time. My well-loaded 1.5-GHz laptop sometimes needed as long as 30 seconds to show my full buddy list after starting Digsby, so the update doesn't go as far as it should, speedwise.—
Buddy List and Chat Windows
Digsby's buddy list has a fairly standard design. A smaller icon within buddy icons shows which service a buddy is using. Hovering the mouse pointer over a user's entry displays a pop-up window from which you can IM, send files, or e-mail. A collapsible bottom section handily shows which services you're logged into. The biggest problem with Digsby's buddy list: Even in the sped-up new version of Digsby, chat windows take too long to pop up when you double-click a buddy icon. AIM is far more responsive.
Tabs for multiple IM conversations appear side by side in Digsby, so you can carry on all your conversations in the same window. You can get user info, send files, e-mail, SMS, and start a video chat using
Application and conversation window skins give you options for changing Digsby's look. The "modern bubbling" conversation skin approaches the slick look of the Mac's iChat IM app. You can also add custom service status messages in addition to the default Available, Away, and Invisible you're limited to in AIM. Digsby also does a good job of organizing and displaying your IM history.—
The Marriage of IM, Social Networking, and E-mail
The real icing on the Digsby cake is the integration with Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. It's not just a case of using those services' instant messaging features (minus Twitter), which Meebo and others can do. When you add a social networking account to Digsby, a tab at the bottom of your buddy list appears with that service's icon, and clicking on it opens a pane showing all your contacts' recent status updates.
I like this implementation much better than AIM 7's new Lifestream feature, which blends all the updates into one list. Digsby also uses the Facebook icons that show you whether the feed entry is for a wall post, profile update, or other activity. An even bigger advantage over AIM's social network feature is that you can actually update your status right from Digsby—AIM forces you to go to the Web.
You can also hook up an e-mail account to Digsby, which adds a bottom button similar to those for social networks; clicking it pops out a panel showing your latest e-mails' from, subject line, and first line of text. You can add any POP, IMAP, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, or AOL mail account; by contrast, AIM only integrates with AOL Mail. Digsby also puts one icon for each of your e-mail accounts and social networks in the system tray, allowing fast access to the panel.
Digsby is an impressive entry in the multiple-IM-service client competition. Its integration with social networks is less overwhelming than that in the venerable Trillian, and Trillian beats Digsby in terms of the sheer number of features it offers. Except for its underhanded (and performance-crippling) use of your computer's processing power, Digsby is strong software that's also versatile and easy to use. But our Editors' Choice honor goes to Trillian, which is just as powerful but doesn't take advantage of users.
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Final Thoughts
Digsby (Build 60, r22564)
Digsby would be the instant messaging client to beat, had it not resorted to underhanded tactics for making money. Its adroit incorporation of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter feeds with all major IM systems, and a skinnable, versatile interface nevertheless make it very appealing.