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Best Jabber clients for Linux, Mac OS, and Windows

This is my personal list over best XMPP/Jabber instant messaging client for KDE, and Gnome on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows:

Best KDE (Qt) client: Kopete

• Pros: Tiny memory requirements.
• Cons: No support for GnuPG encrypted messages.
• Does not remember all toolbar configurations.
• Not a dedicated XMPP client.
• High learning curve.
• Conclusion: Kopete is the best option as there is no real alternates.

Best Gnome (GTK+) client: Gajim

• Pros: Great support for GnuPG encrypted messages.
• Best interpretation of the presence in XMPP.
• File transfer seams to work more often, and transmit faster than with other clients.
• Cons: Memory intense on startup.
• Slightly higher learning curve than other clients.
• Conclusion: Best use of the XMPP standard, and best GnuPG handling makes this the overall most usefull Jabber client.

Best Mac OS client: Adium X

• Pros: More extensible than any other client, and more configurable than anyone could ever need.
• Not a Mac friendly interface, but it still works quite well.
• Cons: No support for GnuPG encrypted messages, and no other privacy options compatible with any other clients..
• Slows down after installing a few extensions, and themes.
• Default duck notification sounds are absolutely awful.
• Not a dedicated XMPP client.
• Conclusion: Adium is Firefox among instant messaging clients. Extendible, shippes stripped down, and slows down when you try to make it look good or to add features other clients have by default.

Best Windows client: Pandion

• Pros: Follows up on all expectations on how a Windows application should work. Everything is where it is expected to be, and the interface is very intuitive.
• Easy to configure.
• Utilises tabs better than any of the other clients mentioned.
• This is the most easy to use client use on any platform.
• Cons: No support for GnuPG encrypted messages, and no other privacy option.
• Does not follow up on the presence part of the XMPP standard.
• Can feel a little emoticon happy.
• Conclusion: Excellent for users already familiar with Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger. Even though it does not have any privacy options, this is the best alternate for Windows users.

Copyright © 2007 Daniel Aleksandersen 2007-02-26 at 08:02

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