Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by coldtea 4494 days ago
>Hint's in the name: instant messaging. For the most part, nobody stops using SMTP if it takes 2 minutes to deliver an e-mail

Well, I don't think anybody would stop using IM too, if it took say 10 or 20 seconds to deliver an IM.
1 comments
mjmahone17 4494 days ago
Honestly, you might not immediately, but if it happened often enough, you probably would switch clients. Back in the day, if AIM managed to screw up enough of mine and my friend's conversations by not sending messages quickly enough (and then sending 30 all at the same time), we'd have moved off it if something better was found.
link
atgm 4494 days ago
I think this was a big factor in why AIM trumped ICQ in America. ICQ had that "sending mail" icon that took a few seconds (or more) to "send" your message and it didn't quite feel instant.
link
krrrh 4493 days ago
It was also a ui issue. ICQ originally had an interface which didn't show a running log of the conversation. It was more like sending email with presence indicators and a 450 character limit. Though it also had an IRC-like mode that was rarely used. I remember finding AIM and MSN so different when they emerged as the 'instant' aspect, typing indicator, and running log encouraged rapid-fire short messages and gave a conversation-like feel.
link
atgm 4493 days ago
> ICQ originally had an interface which didn't show a running log of the conversation.

The earliest version I remember, before 98a, had a history button that would show the running log on the top of the message box window, which was nice.

The nicest thing about ICQ for me back then was the fact that the message disappeared when you sent it -- it wasn't there filling your taskbar or occupying your mindspace.

link