This is the first iteration and I can already see it replacing MSN Messenger. Best thing about the service is that is uses Jabber which far surpasses Microsoft's proprietary service, and this means that I can connect to the service using Adium X...
What the...? Care to elaborate? It's been released for a whole 2 hours or so.
I really don't like it. Here is why: First off, the UI blows. Google really needs to invest in some decent UI developers for all their apps, not just this one, so that really isn't news. Second off, the features blow. I can't talk to MSN Messenger users. I can't talk to AIM users. I can't use the call feature (well, technically I can about 1 in 10 tries). I can't use emoticons. I can't send files. Yes, it is beta, but I'm suprised they let this thing out the door without giving it anywhere near the functionality of any other of the major IM clients out there.
The two things I do like:
1) Gmail integration (especially the find contacts part)
2) Small download size
But these are hardly good enough reasons for me to even think about switching or asking any of the people I communicate with via IM on a regular basis to do so. It's a neat app to download and play with for 5 minutes, but if anyone other than Google had released this, no one would miss a step. Just watch as people start talking about it. People aren't going to be talking about what Google talk "does," they are going to be talking about what they think Google talk "will do." What this client may do at some point in the future really doesn't change the fact that in its current state it sucks.
It's just been release, in beta stage, and people already think about using it for rush hour business. I'd rather use it with my hacker/geek friends than for business (for now). For that matter, my hacker/geek friends like it and already noticed there are no emoticons, but beside that it's light and cute. I downloaded Google Talk (900K) and one minute later I downloaded MSN Messenger (9M). Google installed almost instantly, MSN's installed locked up for 10 seconds at the 1st screen, doing Microsoft knows what, when I pressed Next.
Anyway, anyone up to making a GAIM plug-in that supports Google's voice part of the protocol? :)
By the way, if anyone noticed yet, Google does stuff right, even if they don't have a rapid development cycle, no market they can lose if they don't release on time, and with no deadlines whatsoever. This freaks out the other commercial competitors since they don't know what to expect next and due to Google's popularity anything they release is prone to fast adoption. Using open technologies scares the hell out of Microsoft (and possibly others) because their further attempts to patent "1 and 0", "pen and paper", "drinkable water" and "breatheable air" will have no point anymore.
So, from the above point of view, way to go Google!
BTW, when should we expect GoogleOS? :)
oh lala,
Cool.
Though it has poor IM,it definately serves its primary focus ~~ "Talk" ~ i had nice voice chat with my friend.i do think google will be good competitor for msn and yahoo in sort time..
I am looking forward for GoogleOS Release :):)
Let's Talk!
Jesse never seems to be happy. Read through his stuff, he just tends to be negative/critical.
My thoughts: I happen to like the UI. Funny thing about UI's, it is a preference thing... some people like it, some people don't. Jesse doesn't seem to get that. I happen to like most of Google's UI, and think their developers are doin good. Have you seen their customized home page: www.google.com/ig Crazy stuff. Look at the 'add content' part on the left.
More thoughts: The talk thing worked perfectly for me. Not sure why he says 1 in 10... must be an operator error.
No, I do not tend to be negative or critical, I tend to be honest. There are just as many positive posts on this blog or posts about cool things (if not more) than there are negative. The fact that you like to focus on negativity and only remember the negative things I say speaks volumes about yourself.
Worst thing that happened to chatting ever (with the possible exception of the plethora of proprietary protocols) - Emoticons.
Nothing like cluttering up a good conversation with nonsensical icons.
Simplicity is beauty. That's what Google knows and what makes them the best.
Google talk - only for rich people? What about Win 95-98 users?
Any version of yahoo messenger runs on Windows 98!
Man, you're ABSOLUTELY right. If anyone other than Google had released this, no one would even notice.
People are dissing you as a negative-meister, but I prefer to think of that sentimentality as optimism bogged down by reality:
MSNIM sucks. Google has a chance NOT to kill Microsoft, but to create a great IM client (too many people focus on 'killing' MS, make a better app than MS and get it out there and you won't need to worry about killing anything...). Talking via VOIP is fun, but I've got Skype if I want to do that - and it has built in encrypted chat, emoticons, and file xfer that doesn't suck.