I could, but since the core engine is the same as that of pidgin, the memory usage is almost as high. If I'm gonna use that much RAM for the console app, I may as well keep the GUI version up and running.
Ever considered using just a straight Jabber client and a gateway for each non-Jabber protocol that you use? I am quite partial to http://psi-im.org/ .
I've tried a few of the dedicated console clients for various protocols. However, I'm lazy and find its just easier to put up with pidgin. That, and I like the OTR crypto plugin.
The only reason I use IM at all is for a long-standing client who insists on using it for 99% of real-time communications.
I've been on the 'net since 1990, and I've never even used IRC (I know, I know -- I should hand in my geek card...). I've always been a store-and-forward kind of person, and have always preferred email and (in its heyday) USENET.
> finch's sudo-graphical ncurses interface is a little awkward.
It tries to replicate all of the windows that the GUI interface creates, but in a text environment where you can only view one window at a time. It's almost like someone didn't want to figure out a way to redesign the interface to work better in a text environment (and maybe just take some cues from the text-based irc clients out there).
[ This may be somewhat inaccurate, I've had little experience with it, but this was my impression. It left a bad taste in my mouth.]
Finch is actually pretty easy to use once you memorize the keyboard shortcuts.
On a related note, I recently switched from Pidgin to Finch, and it boosted my productivity at work. I'm a bit OCD, and every time my Pidgin window would blink, I would feel compelled to read the new message immediately. The end result was that I was allowing myself to get interrupted a lot, all day, every day.
Now that I've switched to PuTTY/ssh+screen+Finch (the original goal was privacy-at-work, the boost in productivity was just icing on the cake!), I find that I only check for new instant messages on MY schedule; e.g., when I'm doing a big compile, or need a break anyway.
I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a productivity boost.
Comments
You can't use finch instead of pidgin?
I could, but since the core engine is the same as that of pidgin, the memory usage is almost as high. If I'm gonna use that much RAM for the console app, I may as well keep the GUI version up and running.
Ever considered using just a straight Jabber client and a gateway for each non-Jabber protocol that you use? I am quite partial to http://psi-im.org/ .
I've tried a few of the dedicated console clients for various protocols. However, I'm lazy and find its just easier to put up with pidgin. That, and I like the OTR crypto plugin.
The only reason I use IM at all is for a long-standing client who insists on using it for 99% of real-time communications.
I've been on the 'net since 1990, and I've never even used IRC (I know, I know -- I should hand in my geek card...). I've always been a store-and-forward kind of person, and have always preferred email and (in its heyday) USENET.
finch's sudo-graphical ncurses interface is a little awkward. I know there's an xmpp plugin for irssi, so that might be nicer if you just use GTalk.
[ This may be somewhat inaccurate, I've had little experience with it, but this was my impression. It left a bad taste in my mouth.]
Finch is actually pretty easy to use once you memorize the keyboard shortcuts.
On a related note, I recently switched from Pidgin to Finch, and it boosted my productivity at work. I'm a bit OCD, and every time my Pidgin window would blink, I would feel compelled to read the new message immediately. The end result was that I was allowing myself to get interrupted a lot, all day, every day.
Now that I've switched to PuTTY/ssh+screen+Finch (the original goal was privacy-at-work, the boost in productivity was just icing on the cake!), I find that I only check for new instant messages on MY schedule; e.g., when I'm doing a big compile, or need a break anyway.
I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a productivity boost.