Client vs. Meebo

Pick a client of your choice (Yahoo, AOL, ICQ, etc.) and review its features vs. the features of Meebo. What can you do with one and not the others? What might be other benefits of using one of the other.

On this page please paste in the bullet pts that you decided on with your partner and make sure to indicate who you are:

e.g.

sg and tg (using my dog's initials :-)

• idea 1
• idea 2
• ...

 th and tk:

• meebo is web-based, so there's no need to download platform-specific software
• meebo offers access to the four major clients in one place, so everyone can im across services
• meebo is better for virtual reference, since it doesn't matter which client the patron uses
• the client service (in this example, aol) offers a more broad variety of chat topics
• the client service (aol) offers more ways to personalize the im experience for individuals

 gc and hn (meebo vs. aim:)

• meebo: can manage multiple accounts, which may be confusing (especially for non-tech-savvy)
• aim: can only manage aim account (and cannot be logged into aim in 2 places at once, e.g. meebo/aim and aim on its own)
• meebo: user must leave a browser tab open in order to im using meebo
• aim: can install icon on task bar; if message window is accidentally closed, user does not lose access to im
• meebo: no software download required; not every library or workstation computer has admin access (typically required for software download)
• aim: message window floats over web pages without altering pop-up blocker settings
• meebo: "pop-out" function seems to require permission from pop-up blocker
• Note: We are both looking forward to talking more about widgets, which we think can resolve a lot of the tech issues!

 Roel (rm) and Renee (rr)

 We discussed AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and Meebo and compared and contrasted features. Here’s a list of our observations:

• AIM allows for mobile messaging to any cell phone number (IMs are converted to text messages). Mobile messaging with Meebo is limited to Apple’s iPhone or iPod Touch.

• Meebo requires internet connectivity, while AIM’s client works independently of an internet browser.

• AIM requires download and configuration of the client interface, while Meebo works through the internet thus chat is available on any internet accessible computer.

• Both services allow for customization of avatars or image icons, but AIM offers many more pre-designed avatars (including animated avatars and emoticons) and more

  themes. Sounds are also more customizable within AIM for various IM activities (e.g., logon, logoff, message alert, etc.).

• Meebo’s obvious aggregation capabilities means that “buddies” using various chat clients can communicate through a single Meebo connection.

• Meebo chat logs are shown regardless of where the user is signed in. In contrast, AIM stores chat logs locally.

jg and jh

Comparing Yahoo! Instant Messenger with Meebo

Yahoo:

pros:

• More visually engaging interface (which could have greater appeal for both visual learners and younger users)
• Word processing features (like edit, save and various formatting options)
• Shortcuts for printing or saving conversations
• Options to "send an email" or "send an SMS" directly from the chat window 
• Can customize and access many features of the Web with plug-ins like weather, news, blogs and music
• Icons right on the chat window allow contacts to easily share photos and files as well as playing games and viewing each other's webcam 
• Pop-ups and sound effects alert users to when their contacts/friends are signing in and out of Yahoo! Messenger 
• A pop-up alerts users when new emails are received in their Yahoo mail account
• Continues to run when window closed, allowing users to continue receiving messages and alerts

• Unless using the web based version (which has limited features), software must be downloaded to computer
• Cannot communicate with other IM client users (*except for Windows Live Messenger, Reuters Messaging and Lotus Sametime)
• Cannot gauge when friends/buddies using other systems are online as you can with Meebo (once again, except for Windows Live Messenger, Reuters Messaging and Lotus Sametime)
• Not all features are available in different operating systems:  http://messenger.yahoo.com/features

lh and lj (Lauren and Lisa)

 Meebo vs. AIM

• Meebo - Can access and manage ALL IM accounts from one place
• Meebo - You can IM from the web on any computer so you don’t have to install the software on all the computers you use. This is a plus at a library since it can be used by the patrons.
• Meebo - Can access multiple IM accounts with the same provider.  Example:  If you have two AIM accounts, you do not have to sign out of one before you can use the other.  They can be used simultaneously in Meebo.
• Meebo - Able to use a wide variety of multimedia which is a big plus
• Meebo-Has a widget which allows users to embed a version of Meebo on their personal website (good for IM reference at library)
• AIM/Meebo-both offer chat rooms in addition to just IM
• AIM/Meebo-both have option to save chat history for future reference
• AIM/Meebo-both can transfer files as needed

jc and jf

Gchat vs. Meebo

• Meebo is an aggregator and allows cross client communication.  Gchat is not compatible with other IM clients.
• Meebo may be blocked by some workplaces and organizations; Gchat is bundled with Gmail and is less likely to be blocked.
• Gchat can be used within the Gmail application, so you don’t have to open both your email and a web communicator, but once you log off of Gmail, Gchat is turned off.  Meebo stays on as long as you are connected to the internet.
• It is possible to leave a message for someone on Gchat if they’re not online (it’s sent in email form).  Meebo supports offline messaging for many, but not all IM clients.  Messages left via a Meebo Me widget are only stored in a cache for seven days.
• Both Meebo and Gchat offer chat logs, which can be enabled or disabled.
• Meebo interface can be personalized with various “skins” and colors; Gchat is not customizable.
• Gchat is better known than Meebo.  Google is a known quantity whereas Meebo is likely a new concept to many users and may take more convincing to convert users to Meebo.
• As others noted, Meebo is web-based, so you don’t need to acquire platform-specific software.  This should be appealing to less tech-savvy corporations because no new programs need be installed on desktops, and Meebo utilizes a simple interface.

Jk and Kc (Jaim and Kalyani)

Meebo vs. Aim et al.

*meebo does not have name recognition, and patrons may be confused when they see a meebo box

*Yahoo AOL MSN are dedicated softwares so they are faster

*Meebo is slower

*aim is well known, and ppl are more easliy able to interact with u b/c of that

*no installation(works with any browser) installation

*no track record established

*speed needs to be looked into fast

*can communicate to any client that exists now or anything that may come up Restricted to its own type

*Don't need to sign up to AOL or Yahoo Have to sign up with a messaging service

la and lja - Meebo vs. AIM

• Meebo: nothing to install, web based and you do not need to rely on a stand alone application (the feel of a standalone app can be had by using Meebo's "pop-out window" feature.)
• Meebo: increases accessibility by being browser and platform independent
• AIM: Installs loads of junk on your computer include a pop-up "Today" browser window welcome page, back-end and front-end heavy (talk about an icky interface) and lastly AIM uses too much hard-drive space.
• Meebo: can have multiple client accounts signed on at one time (Yahoo, Gtalk, ICQ, AIM, Jabber)
• AIM: proprietary protocol cannot use other IM accounts, except ICQ and Yahoo (last time I checked)
• AIM: You have to install the application and most IT departments are smart enough to block the AIM listening Port, if using IM is restricted at work.
• Meebo: If the use of IM is restricted at work Meebo can be used with no problems, trade off being Its less secure any anyone smart enough and looking for it can sniff out those TCP packets. Also they only secure your passwords, read that again, only your passwords (i.e. not your conversations!)
• AIM: Has better security encryption, security is tricky and anyone looking can get a hold of your info, just some clients are more secure than others.
• Meebo: security, you have to give out your passwords to a 3rd party
• AIM: you have to give your password to AOL!
• Meebo: Meebo Me widgets that you can install on your personal webpages
• AIM: AIM WIMZY does the same thing and its not any better and is not as customizable as the Meebo widget. Customization as a BIG web 2.0 component.
• Meebo: You can set up permanent Meebo Chat rooms for you and your friends, you can either make it public or private
• AIM: Also allows you to set up group chat rooms, with the same features.
• Meebo: created with AJax and Python, beautiful.....
• AIM: Banner ads and saturated with advertising
• AIM: Annoying default launch when Windows starts. Giving you no time to uncheck the defualt "start-up" box, leaving you to hunt that setting down in the preferences later.

We could go on forever...

Amy (aa) and Danielle (dh)

meebo v. yahoo

• Meebo requires no software installation and we felt this was its primary advantage over yahoo, or any IM client, for that matter.  All of the clients, including yahoo, require downloads and installation which may place unwanted components (i.e. additional toolbars and update popups) on your system as well.  So even though there is some limited advertising in both, meebo is overall less intrusive.
•  Yahoo does provide widgets for weather, news, etc. so if you want those extras, you will not find them in meebo aside from the featured advertisement.
• Meebo's web-based platform provides easy accessibility to mobile technology; although yahoo does have a mobile device option, our limited testing indicated it requires setup and mobile charges may apply. If a user has a smart phone it may simply be easier to navigate to the Meebo website.
• Meebo requires that all users provide their names/pw's to a third party, which is always a security risk.
• Creating & modifying user groups is less complicated and more intuitive in meebo--it gives you the option to create groups on the fly, where yahoo requires two clicks under a menu called 'organize messenger', or a right click on the name of a current group neither of which are particularly user friendly.
• Both offer chat rooms, although we felt there were unique pluses to both--meebo provides an easier, more visual interface for inserting multimedia, yahoo offers a "doodle" option which allows IMers to literally draw on the same virtual scratch pad
• Yahoo provides more of a "user profile" than meebo, which might be helpful in identifying potential 'buddies'
• Yahoo IM client offers more emoticons than meebo...this is not a practical advantage, but for people who like smileys these things are important!
• There are some technical issues with running meebo mainly involving simultaneous login's. For example, if you have a gmail session open in browser 1 for username_a, and you log into meebo where you want it to connect to gtalk username_b, it will actually end up kicking you off of your username_a gmail session.  The same thing will happen for an AOL email session.  So you have to run meebo in browser 2 to avoid closing those username_a sessions in browser 1.  Similar problems with having the AIM or Yahoo clients running when starting up meebo; warnings come up saying you already have sessions open and you will often get kicked off username_a because meebo is logging in to usename_b.  [aa note: I am trying to keep my social software username activity separate from my personal username(s) activity, and meebo actually makes that kind of difficult.]

Tamara (ta) and Steve (sc)

Meebo:

The Good:

• The first, and loudest advantage is that, provided you're running the latest version of any major standards-compliant browser (and yes, solely for this exercise Internet Explorer is counted in this bunch as "Major" but not standards-compliant), there is no additional software installation required.
• Meebo is an aggregator, and allows you to manage multiple service accounts together.
• Interfaces between accounts are consistent.
• Chat widgets work well.

The Bad:

• Usernames and passwords are funneled through Meebo's server along with the actual text of each chat, which poses an additional risk of security problems.
• Widget chats are anonymous so it can be difficult to get back in touch with users communicating through a widget.
• Meebo chatrooms are cluttered and difficult to follow.
• Sessions in certain IM clients can overlap causing multiple logins into the same account to act unreliably.

The Ugly:

• Because Meebo is coded in JavaScript, if you use certain plugins under some browsers (such as ChatZilla under Firefox) the interface glitches.

Yahoo!

The Good:

• Yahoo's chat service is linked into every other Yahoo service (Avatars, Email, My Yahoo, etc. etc. etc.)
• Employs ruch text formatting.
• Easier to manage contacts.

The Bad:

• Not all Yahoo! clients support all Yahoo IM and Chat features.

The Ugly:

• There are a horrible number of SPAMers on Yahoo!.
• The chat program on some platforms, such as Mac OS X, is buggy.