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Mac Forum / Applications / Other MS Products / April 2005Calling all Messenger for Mac Users!
Everyone can agree that MSN Messenger 4.0.1 for Mac is the biggest pile of crap to come out of the Macintosh Business Unit, it lacks in all areas of functionality and is frankly not developed with the end user in mind (rather developed for the purpose of business use which doesn't make sense seeing as the majority of it's userbase is home users). We've been campaigning for change for quite some time, MSN Messenger 4.0 was a complete Joke when it was released, intially all that had changed over the previous version was a new installer, new icon, new name, a limited option to set status at sign-in and the conversation history (plus integration with Office:mac2004) Looking over the details for Microsoft Messenger 5.0 for Mac, things don't seem to be any better, except for the addition of Display Pictures, the rest of the features and development have been put into the Business side of the application, leaving the home-user out. When will they realise that Messenger for Mac is seen as a Home User Application rather than a Business Application, MSN Messenger for Windows is developed for the Home user, a lot of features are constantly being added to that Application over time, yet the Macintosh version doesn't seem to be going anywhere. What's worse is 3rd party developers out there are now at the stage where they've managed to impliment most of the features that MSN Messenger for Windows offers in the Mac versions of their clients, the only problems with those applications are support, stability, Interface Guidelines are not adhered to and the fact that the clients are illegal as they haven't obtained a license to use the .NET Messenger service from Microsoft. We're fighting and campaigning for a fairer deal for Mac users! Our petition has been spread far and wide, with over 18,500 signatures from frustrated and angry Mac and Windows users I think it's about time for a change. The stance is this, Microsoft Messenger 5.0 for Mac is not going to be any better than MSN Messenger 4.0.1 is or was, until the Macintosh Business Unit can realise this and make an active effort to show that they are willing to listen, work with the Windows development team on the same features and update the Macintosh version of Messenger to bring it in line with it's windows cousin. They're going to lose the trust of their Macintosh user-base. Mac users are well know and renowned for the way we like things to be functional and look good, something that the Macintosh platform and Mac Users pride themselves on. Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac is the perfect example of an application that delivers on that, however for the same group of people to come up with something like MSN Messenger 4.0 for Mac and Microsoft Messenger 5.0 for Mac is rediculous, you wonder what they're doing!!! MSN Messenger 4.0 - Completely lacks any form of reasonable functionality with the Windows version, with no thought whatsoever, the application lags far behind the Windows version creating barriers that make the end user feel excluded from the MSN community. Microsoft Messenger 5.0 for Mac - A slight improvement over MSN Messenger 4.0 however it still lacks the basic and fundamental features that have been around on the windows version for over a year now causing it to fall further behind Windows as version 7.0 is released, this widens the gap causing mac users to feel more isolated and excluded. Whilst there is some development, it is focuses on the wrong areas for development. Orientating the application towards Business Use is a good idea however when it compromises the introduction of new features for an ever growing home-user base it's flawed. Please help us and help yourselves by passing on the petition link below and signing it if you haven't already! http://mac.rjt.cjb.net/msnmessenger/ Well, it seems to make sense, doesn't it? Like, Windows systems is owned by microsoft, and MSN Messenger is owned by microsoft as well, so MSN Messengers is a client based on Windows systems... Maybe some things that you can do on Microsoft systems require 1 line when it requires like 200 lines in Mac... Maybe that they are different programming languages... > Everyone can agree that MSN Messenger 4.0.1 for Mac is the biggest pile of > crap to come out of the Macintosh Business Unit, it lacks in all areas of [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > > http://mac.rjt.cjb.net/msnmessenger/ Dude...Microsoft has to thank Apple Computer... Remember that Word 1.0 was Macintosh only.... Today the have the money and resources to make this happened in a good way... The MacBU has made an incredible job with the office suite... Are you telling me that they can not take 10 people from the office project and put them on on the Messenger team? Or do you think they are planning to make an office 2005? Also Microsoft was one of the first costumers of the new Power Macs G5... They got those to make the X-box 2. And one more thing... MSN Messenger is NOT going to make me go back to the dark side... Not even if my life depends on it. On 4/12/05 6:39 PM, in article 12DD63E1-A2CB-4037-8B15-FABFD769870B@microsoft.com, "anonymous :P" > Well, it seems to make sense, doesn't it? Like, Windows systems is owned by > microsoft, and MSN Messenger is owned by microsoft as well, so MSN Messengers [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] >> >> http://mac.rjt.cjb.net/msnmessenger/ Well, just dont hold your breath. I dont think w will get anything good as a messenger from MS, if the track record tell us something. Let's face it: Microsoft is, almost as a rule, slow to respond to actual consumer demand, if they feel magnanimous enough to do it at all. I don't expect them to reconcile the differences between the Windows and Macintosh versions of Mesenger in any conceivably short period of time, if ever. Perhaps they've decided to punish Mac users because they're sore at them for purchasing a non-Windows platform (although many of them use Windows in other locations or via Virtual PC on their Mac anyway). Perhaps the MBU is strained with another project we don't know about, and is unable to devote adequate effort to (apparently) "fringe" products like Messenger for Mac. Perhaps they just...don't...freaking...care. We may never know. Personally, I would quite rather use either the "illegal" clients mentioned in the opening post, some of which have quite interesting features Microsoft would never think of or consider adding, or simply run MSN Messenger 7.0 when my Virtual PC is open. Hi, MSN Messenger is a free product. Every dollar they spend on it is a cost with no return for the investment. This is not a very exciting proposition to the folks who want a paycheck at the end of the pay period. So free stuff definitely takes a back seat to applications that pay the bills. Why go to such great lengths to pick a bizzare reason when such an obvious one exists?  SignatureJim Gordon Mac MVP MVP FAQ <http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;mvpfaqs> > Let's face it: Microsoft is, almost as a rule, slow to respond to > actual consumer demand, if they feel magnanimous enough to do it at [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > never think of or consider adding, or simply run MSN Messenger 7.0 when > my Virtual PC is open. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > never think of or consider adding, or simply run MSN Messenger 7.0 when > > my Virtual PC is open. I loaded MSN Messenger 7 for Windows onto a computer last night, to see what features it had. The Windows version is so full of features which I would not want to see. These features mostly link to other MSN services. It is also heavily laden with advertising. What I really don't like is the way MSN Messenger 7 allows you to use a specific feature with a buddy, but doesn't tell you your buddy doesn't have that capability until you have tried to use it, sending your buddy a message telling them how to upgrade. I am so sick of those messages. Why can't it only enable those features base on the capability of your buddies client? I suppose the idea is they want you on the latest version. I wouldn't want a Mac version that provides the same features as the Windows version. There are some features I want but others I don't. I wouldn't expect Microsoft to provide me with a version that only has the features I desire. Of course, heavily entrenched in the Microsoft way is that you are using Microsoft Windows. To really have an MSN Messenger version that had feature parity with the Windows version would require Microsoft to think of more than just Windows when creating any service. Hi Matthew, One of the things the MVPs do is to relay to Microsoft which specific features customers want. MacBU has a small budget (relative to Windows), so they want to spend it only on things important to Mac users. If you would elaborate on which features you would like and which ones are less important to you, then others might also chime in. If there is consensus that would be great because then that information can be relayed to the developers. -Jim SignatureJim Gordon Mac MVP MVP FAQ <http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;mvpfaqs> >>Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > feature parity with the Windows version would require Microsoft to think > of more than just Windows when creating any service. Here's my list: - Audio and video chatting to compatible with Windows version and know whether someone can do audio and video before attempting to do so. - Ability to log on with multiple accounts simultaneously. - Suppression of messages, telling me to upgrade to latest Windows version of MSN Messenger when someone tries to use a feature in the Windows version that is not available in the Mac version. (this really bugs me) - ability to display contact name from Entourage or just change the display name if not in Entourage. - spell checking as you type - able to provide status message like Windows version - better handling of NAT routers. - user configurable sound for events. I like to have a sound play when I receive a message even if it is the front window as I may not be at my computer. have to make a different window the front one right now. - configurable speech for events, including names, text of message. - see local time of buddies (I don't any IM system does this). - have a location field I can set for buddies, but better yet would be if the buddy set this, but would need to be able to override it. I currently use groups but would rather not use groups for it. Most of what I want is not in MSN Messenger for Windows. How's that list? Matthew Smith > Hi Matthew, > [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > > feature parity with the Windows version would require Microsoft to think > > of more than just Windows when creating any service. I'll throw in my 5c, please add video and audio. All my friends use MSN and webcams and I'd love to be able to use my iSight on the Mac to video chat with them. The new messenger video chat on XP works great :) On 4/21/05 8:36 PM, in article matty_d-2058D1.10365122042005@msnews.microsoft.com, "Matthew Smith" <matty_d@macxxx.com> wrote: > Here's my list: > [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] >>> feature parity with the Windows version would require Microsoft to think >>> of more than just Windows when creating any service. > Here's my list: > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > if the buddy set this, but would need to be able to override it. I > currently use groups but would rather not use groups for it. But wait, there is more: The ability to use AppleScript to get access to status and buddies, groups, and thus have Salling Clicker change my status when I am on the phone, among other things. One thing that I find funny is when Windows users point to their pic using ----->. Of course there is no pic in the Mac version. I wonder how useful it would be if you knew what platform your buddies are on. It could provide some interesting conversations. But then the idea that the platform is irrelevant would be good too. |
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