Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

npmccallum · Mar 30, 2003, 07:36 PM

I hate how in the iChat menu applet, if you click on an available user it brings you to a chat window rather than a IM window... Is there a way to change this??? Why did they do it this way!?!?

DaedalusDX · Mar 30, 2003, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by npmccallum:
I hate how in the iChat menu applet, if you click on an available user it brings you to a chat window rather than a IM window... Is there a way to change this??? Why did they do it this way!?!?

I was under the impression that in iChat, there is no distinction between IM windows and Chat windows. Basically, when you're having an IM conversation, its a Chat with one person. What's probably happening with you is that the Participants panel slides out by default. Just click the particpants button (far left in the chat window) to make that go away.

npmccallum · Mar 30, 2003, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by DaedalusDX:
I was under the impression that in iChat, there is no distinction between IM windows and Chat windows. Basically, when you're having an IM conversation, its a Chat with one person. What's probably happening with you is that the Participants panel slides out by default. Just click the particpants button (far left in the chat window) to make that go away.

Actually, the two are very different, especially when talking to people on AIM. If you click on the Participant panel you will notice that one window says "Instant Message" and the other says "Inviting ... to chat." This is of great annoyance to AIM users. Is there any way to make the menu bar app go straigt to the Instant Message window as oppossed to the chat window?

rockhaus · Mar 30, 2003, 09:58 PM

iChat IS AIM for OSX. You are inviting a person to CHAT with you in an IM window.

There is no difference. Get over it.

Look in the File menu, though.

New Chat makes a room.

New chat with person requires their IP address.

If you want to find a room, Go To Chat, and type the name If it doesn't already exist, you just made one, into which you can invite people via IMs, just like on AOL, ad also New Chat (above).

But not all AOL rooms are available in iChat because...

AOL is NOT the internet.

Get over that, too.

HTH

cpac · Mar 30, 2003, 10:12 PM

Originally posted by rockhaus:

There is no difference.

Yes, there most certainly is.

And for some reason, using the iChat menu for me results in an IM window, not a chat window...

Hmmmm.

npmccallum · Mar 30, 2003, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by rockhaus:
iChat IS AIM for OSX. You are inviting a person to CHAT with you in an IM window.

There is no difference. Get over it.

Look in the File menu, though.

New Chat makes a room.

New chat with person requires their IP address.

If you want to find a room, Go To Chat, and type the name If it doesn't already exist, you just made one, into which you can invite people via IMs, just like on AOL, ad also New Chat (above).

But not all AOL rooms are available in iChat because...

AOL is NOT the internet.

Get over that, too.

HTH

I resent your condecending tone. I have been a UNIX technician for 7 years and I have recently switched to the mac. I am currently writing my dissertation on the effects of the internet on American Ethical philosophy, so I think I am more than qualified to discern the difference between a "Chat window" and an "Instant Messaging window."

In reference to your more than uneducated statement: "iChat IS AIM for OSX." iChat is NOT AIM for OSX. If you go to http://www.aim.com/get_aim/mac/latest_macosx.adp you will realize that there IS an AIM client for OSX that is NOT iChat. iChat is simply a licencing of the AIM protocol OSCAR (Open System for Communication in Realtime) by apple for proprietary use in their OS. If you would like some more education on how AOL instant messaging works go to: http://gridley.acns.carleton.edu/~straitm/final/ Maybe next time you won't make such a bad name for Mac users.

To basically sumerize, an "Instant Message" follows a totally different signal path than a "Chat Request," and a "Chat Request" is more than a neusance for people with restrictive firewalls. Thus my original query... Why does the menu app bring up a chat window instead of an instant messaging window?

Nathaniel

Basilisk · Mar 30, 2003, 11:58 PM

npmccallum,

I've experienced the same thing, and it appears to not really be an iChat thing, at least not directly.

Generally I've found that I get a Chat-type window for those logged in using non-OSCAR clients. For clients using OSCAR the iChat menu always opens a true instant message. I'm not 100% sure this is consistent, as I haven't paid much attention to it (I don't view it as a major issue) but I can say for certain that its not a general problem with the iChat MenuExtra as I can consistently get an Instant Message window for my buddies who use iChat on Mac or Trillian on Windows (both OSCAR based).

So pretty much I think this is a client to client (or perhaps protocol to protocol) interaction.

Bas

proxyma · 11:02 AM

Hi,

I noticed that sending a file via the window directly to the buddy you'r speaking with, change the mode to IM (IP based).

http://www.ichatmasters.net/

gorickey · Apr 1, 2003, 09:55 PM

Odd, I had this ALL the time before 10.2.2, but since then...I thought it has been fixed since I NEVER get it now. Interesting...

midwinter · Apr 1, 2003, 10:51 PM

Heh. That was golden.

At any rate, you may want to keep in mind that iChat is *really* new, and while pretty functional as a barebones chat client, it's still got some kinks. That goes for lots of software. And for OS X.

You may want to consider using one of the other clients out there (Fire, Adium, Proteus, or AIM) and seeing if any of them suit your needs.

Cheers
Scott

npmccallum · Apr 2, 2003, 12:48 AM

Originally posted by midwinter:
Heh. That was golden.

At any rate, you may want to keep in mind that iChat is *really* new, and while pretty functional as a barebones chat client, it's still got some kinks. That goes for lots of software. And for OS X.

You may want to consider using one of the other clients out there (Fire, Adium, Proteus, or AIM) and seeing if any of them suit your needs.

Cheers
Scott

Do any of them have the cool menubar app?

Nathaniel

mrfrost · Apr 2, 2003, 04:11 AM

Originally posted by npmccallum:
Do any of them have the cool menubar app?

Nathaniel

Proteus does

npmccallum · Apr 2, 2003, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by Basilisk:
npmccallum,

I've experienced the same thing, and it appears to not really be an iChat thing, at least not directly.

Generally I've found that I get a Chat-type window for those logged in using non-OSCAR clients. For clients using OSCAR the iChat menu always opens a true instant message. I'm not 100% sure this is consistent, as I haven't paid much attention to it (I don't view it as a major issue) but I can say for certain that its not a general problem with the iChat MenuExtra as I can consistently get an Instant Message window for my buddies who use iChat on Mac or Trillian on Windows (both OSCAR based).

So pretty much I think this is a client to client (or perhaps protocol to protocol) interaction.

Bas

Strangely enough, when I added full names to all the AIM nicks (by adding it the address card under user info) I now get just the IM window. Perhaps it opens the chat window with "unknown" users... (by unknown users I mean users who are not defined in the address card). Oh well, it works now!!!