ICQ is the first IM I used...used it all the time from 1997-1999. Then the later versions were more RAM dependent and just didn't work on my old puter that well. With my newer puter, it works like a champ. But most of the people I used to chat with on ICQ are gone now.

AOLIM is the main one I use now. It's probably the easiest IM system to use.

I've been using Yahoo more recently, though I've had it for years. Voice is easier to use on YIM, and I like the customizing that you can do to it.

AIM now supports ICQ ... and shares info with the ICQ servers. I've chatted with Sidhe and Troubleshooter who both use ICQ while I'm on AOL IM.

Yeah, it was inevitable once AOL bought ICQ.

One of the issues with ICQ is the ad banners, but the right unauthorized patch and the problem is solved.

Just use trillian if you have a PC. If you have a mac use Fire, excellent multi-IM client and it's open-source to boot.

I normally only use YIM, screen name newbrianrem2

You might want to check out trillian ... one program to bind them all, basically. You'll lose the cool functionality of the new Beta YahooIM, though.