Google Talk Reviewed

So you're sick and tired of AOL Instant Messenger. You're looking for something fresh and new that will just work. Well Google feels the same way. On Wednesday August 24th they released their version of AIM, Google Talk.

Although Google Talk and AIM do basically the same thing, Google Talk is very different. For starters anyone can join AIM, in order to use Google Talk you need to have a Gmail account. AIM will also let you make a profile, Google Talk you can't. However there are more features on Google Talk that are left out in AIM.

Google Talk's main feature is being able to call friends that are on your list. Call means being able to talk through a microphone to them and they respond through theirs, much like the service Skype. There is a similar feature in the current version of AIM; however it's not as easy to use.

Let's say you're talking to someone in the conversation window. You decide that this conversation would work a lot better over the phone. Well don't get up and dial a number, simply plug in the microphone and headphones and guess what you're connected, just like a phone. All you have to do is press the "Call" button in the window, you'll hear a dial tone, and when the other user accepts you're connected.

At the top of the window, when call is activated, you'll see a volume meter for your friend and one for you. All it takes is a click of a button, how easy is that?

The other easy thing about Google Talk is the simplicity behind making a customized message. When you're online you'll have a small snippet under your name. You can customize that to whatever you want, that could be considered somewhat of a profile. You can also see peoples' away messages right under their name. Making an away message is just as simple as changing the text under your name. Just go to the drop down list under your name in the window (not the friends list) and go to the "Custom Message" with the red circle next to it.

Google has also added a feature to make it easier to sign up for the service. When you select to add a friend you can insert an email address that isn't a Gmail one. All it does is email the person letting them know about the service and offering a download link. This makes it really easy to convince your friends to make the switch.

Another feature that is greatly appreciated in Google Talk is the way it works directly with Gmail. You can add people on your contacts to the service within the Google Talk interface, plus it will notify you when a new email has been received. You can also go directly to your Gmail inbox via a link from the interface.

This next feature won't mean much to the average user, but to some misfortunate geeks with low RAM it may. Google Talk consumes around 3MB of RAM. AOL Instant Messenger takes around 9MB. If you have a lot of other programs open and you can't afford to waste RAM Google Talk will work great.

Google Talk is also much cleaner looking than AIM. There are no ads and no added crap like a stock ticker or news ticker. However the one thing that I'd like to see in Google Talk is notifications that tell you when someone logs on or off. This feature has been available in AIM for about 2 years.

There some other things that could be enhanced. In the settings menu I'd like to see a setting to customize how often it checks the Gmail mailbox, customize sounds, and more customization for notifications.

Staying on the topic of customization I'd like to see, in later versions, the option to add categories in your friends list. Something so you could put all your family under one list, friends under the others and so on.

Overall I wouldn't rush out and download Google Talk quite yet. Right now I'd think that it would be more convenient to corporations so that employees can interact with each other. It won't take down AIM, because AIM is just too popular, but it might steal some Yahoo! Messenger or MSN users.

This article was originally posted on http://www.p2btech.com

Although this is the full article, screen shots are avilable at http://www.p2btech.com/googletalk.html

p2bte ch.com offers just about everything. We've got music, games, on demand video, podcasts, sports, and of course technology.

If you've got a tech problem we also offer a technology podcast and a detailed Help Center with answers to just about anything.

---

3 Tips to Fix Unreliable Wireless Connections

Generally speaking, wireless computer connections are reliable. However, nothing is... Read More

Its On! (Free Internet TV - Watch TV Online)

Get ready because "there's going to be television out the... Read More

Some DSL Broadband Definitions

Often too many people get confused with all the definitions,... Read More

How to Get Broadband

Getting broadband services getting easy, but research still required.Broadband Internet... Read More

Top 3 UK Broadband Providers

Every Internet provider today wants to make it sound like... Read More

BT Broadband

Approximately 4 million people in the UK use ADSL with... Read More

3G EV-DO or How the Internet Got Its Wings!

The Internet, as most people know it, is history.It just... Read More

Wanadoo: 17.99 Pounds 1Mbps Service

Wanadoo 17.99 pounds 1 mbps service getting good reviews.Want a... Read More

The Coming Television Revolution

The revolution is just getting started and will be begin... Read More

Wireless Network Hammerin

The wireless network in my house went haywire. It worked... Read More

Webmail - What are the Benefits?

There are so many different webmail services on the internet,... Read More

Chat-less

Are you suddenly chat-less now that Yahoo has shut down... Read More

Google Brings Millions of Hard-to-Find Library Books to Your Fingertips

Millions of hard-to-find books from five major libraries will soon... Read More

Broadband is State-of-the-Art Internet Access: How Can a Broadband Cable Benefit You?

We are now well ensconced in a time when the... Read More

How to Choose Best ISP for Your Needs

Well, the Internet access industry is starting to shake its... Read More

A Cheap Alternative To Broadband?

Are you a dial-up user looking for a faster connection,... Read More

Whois Protocol - TCP/IP Suite

The Whois protocol is an information service not unlike the... Read More

Internet Service Providers

Internet Service Provider or ISP is a company that provides... Read More

Find the Best Broadband Provider for You

To find the best broadband provider for you takes some... Read More

What is Broadband?

Defining broadband can get complicatedThere are many different takes on... Read More

Wifi Hotspot Locations for Sale..is that a Good Thing?

Recent companies have been advertising wifi hotspot locations that are... Read More

Wi-Fi Hotspot Security

You've set up your Boingo account, you're hanging out at... Read More

Bleeding Edge or Expensive Enterprise Satellite Internet?

The State of Satellite Internet in 2005For those businesses unable... Read More

Two Enter Internet Battle

Consumers understand that when there is more competition in... Read More

Beta Testing First Mobile Internet Satellite Broadband, Part II

We were the first beta testers of a Mobile Command... Read More

How Peer to Peer (P2P) Works

Peer to Peer (P2P) Technology- How it works:Ever wondered how... Read More

DSL Internet is a Simple and Easy Way to Get Fast Internet Service

DSL ? which stands for Digital Subscriber Line ? is... Read More

Broadband Satellite Antenna Pizza Box Size

Thanks to the transfer technologies and governments spending on military... Read More

Finger Protocol - TCP/IP Suite

The "finger" protocol is used to return information on users... Read More

ICMP Protocol - Internet Control Message Protocol

The Internet Control Message Protocol communicates errors messages between systems... Read More

Broadband

Broadband is the name given to a high-speed Internet connection... Read More

How to Secure your DSl / Cable Internet Connection Against Malicious Attacks

Securing your Windows Xp computer is done by achieving two... Read More

Broadband - Will it Affect Your Online Marketing Future?

The coming age of general Broadband use bearing down upon... Read More