StrikeAwe

No more AIM

Posted Sept. 10, 2009 by Gabriel Hurley

I meant to write this article about a month ago, but I've been too swamped to get it out.

Long story short: I'm done with AIM.

A part of me is amazed that the protocol has stuck around as long as it has, and another part is surprised I've stuck with it.

In truth, I hardly know anyone who's signed up for AIM in the last 10 years. The only people who have are mostly under the age of 20.  Most of my friends have had their screen names since they were 12, and for some of those screen names, it shows (what you thought was funny back then isn't really funny anymore).

And yet multi-protocol messaging clients like iChat, Adium, Digsby, and others made it so easy to cling to AIM. It was more work to get rid of it than to just keep it around.

Then Lifehacker came out with a SCATHING article about Digsby's revenue model, and Digsby responded with their own explanation... but in the end it left me with a sour taste in my mouth, since Digsby had been my app of choice.

And it got me to thinking: all but about 3 people I talk to regularly use Google Talk, and those people all have GMail accounts anyway... I really don't need AIM anymore.

AIM had become a collection of people from the past that I never talk to and don't need to be keeping track of anymore. That's what Facebook is for... ;-)

So it's official, I'm no longer going to be using AIM whatsoever. The protocol is overdue for demise, and Gtalk offers far better features as it is.

So if you don't see me on AIM anymore, then come find me on Gtalk.