David Pogue compares MSN Messenger 6 with iChat AV, both currently in beta form for The New York Times.
“Even in their preliminary incarnations, these programs illustrate two important points. First, the addition of voice and video changes the experience so profoundly, it’s not really chat any more. Second, Apple and Microsoft may as well have come from different planets,” Pogue writes.
“For example, Microsoft, true to tradition, has focused on expanding its list of features, while Apple has worked toward elegance and simplicity. Messenger is a cacophony of brightly colored buttons, panels, blinking advertisements and, in the new version, animated (and even homemade) smileys; iChat AV maintains the clean lines and brushed-metal ‘surfaces’ of its text-only predecessors,” explains Pogue.
“If both conversation partners have high-speed Internet connections or are on the same office network, Messenger’s video looks very good. You have only three size choices for the video – small, smaller or microscopic – but it’s bona fide video. If one of you works in a corporate office, however, and therefore sits behind a firewall (a layer of hacker-proof hardware or software), much less data wriggles through. What you see isn’t so much video as a series of stuttering still images, sent once or twice a second, like someone illuminated by a strobe light in a dance club,” writes Pogue.
Pogue writes, “Unfortunately, you get the same effect if one or both of you connects to the Internet using a dial-up modem. Phone lines just aren’t fat enough to transmit quality video, so all MSN Messenger can do is fake it. Maybe that’s why Messenger’s typed chat area remains open even during voice or video calls, just in case.”
“Apple, on the other hand, would sooner die than release anything that could be described as ‘stuttering’ or ‘microscopic.’ In iChat AV, video is as crisp, clear, bright and smooth as television (640 by 480 pixels), in a window as small as a Triscuit or as big as your screen. Unless you begin to type, the typed-chat window isn’t even visible during a video or audio call,” writes Pogue.
Full article here.
of course apple is better
Man, I want to switch soo bad but I have a shelf of Macromedia and MS software for windows.
:^(
Does Macromedia offer a upgrade that lets you switch versions (apple – win)?
Rumple – just request a “cross-grade” when you upgrade packages from the makers. They’ll switch you from PeeCee to Mac – no charge – at least Adobe, Macromedia, and other (even MS for Office!) do so.
Thanks David for this obviously non-biased and super in-depth review of these two collaboration applications. Your in-depth knowlege begs the question why you are not programming software for the masses.
Rumplestilskin:
You could use Virtual PC (http://www.connectix.com/products/vpc6m.html) to run your Windows apps on a Mac.
This comparison is an excellent example of the Apple vs Microsoft differences. Simplicity and quality vs tons o’ features. Neither is better than the other.
I was with a Wintel-using friend in the Apple store to see the Steve keynote. Rather than being wowed as I was, his reply was, “Yea, I can do that.” And when I replied with “But, can you do it as easily and does it look so good.” He admitted not, but didn’t feel that all of the hype was worth products that are merely doing the same thing “better” rather than truly innovative. Not valuing quality, he doesn’t see a reason to switch to Apples.
I think many people are similar to him. Some people admire the quality and art in something, while others merely see it as a tool, and if it gets the job done, who cares about the other things.
I think Apple could touch more people… in fact the world… if they were to put their efforts into delivering high-speed internet to the other 99.99% of the world. Such a huge mass-market move could lower the cost to something more people could afford. I moved just a few miles and totally lost all high-speed access without spending $1000 for hardware and $90/month. Imagine hooking up anyone anywhere via satellite and a Mac. Video, audio, and data communications. There are more than enough cars, what the world needs are roads!! THAT will sell Macs!!
“Imagine hooking up anyone anywhere via satellite and a Mac. Video, audio, and data communications.”
Satellite communications, of which I am a subscriber (Starband 2-Way) have too high of a latency (~1000MS roundtrip ping) to do voice or video. Non-latency sensitive data apps are fine… like web browsing, normal text ichat, downloading stuff, etc.
-Zack
http://www.macpulse.com/
Remove “NOSPAM” from address to email.
PS Yes, my Starband satellite works with my Mac flawlessly.
i would like to chat with people and meet new people