I'm guessing your like me. A desktop cluttered with crap. And as if the everyday crap wasn't enough, on top of all that you have an IRC box, MSN messenger constantly bleeping at you, AOL users asking you to be their friend, and an IRC client connected to loads of channels, all demanding your attention. And if you're on more than one IRC server, you've got a client open for each and every one. In a word... "ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH".

Am I right? No?? Ah well, I don't care. I'm here to introduce you to a program called Trillian.

Trillian is a freeware program (supported by donations... go on!) that combines all of these messaging servers in one package. It replaces the multiple apps with a single contact list, much like a normal ICQ window, with each programs contact list (which it imports on installation) in its own group. Messaging contacts from any of the instant messenger contact lists is done in the same style window, the style of which is dependant on the skin you apply to the program. In my screenshots I am using the "Whistler" skin, cos I found it to be the nicest in my opinion. There's plenty to choose from on their website, so you'll find something you like. My contact list, with Whistler skin, is shown in image 1, to the right.

Below the screenshot of my contact list are pictures of a number of other skins in action, showing off the program's interface. As I said before, all messages are sent using the same context boxes:

IRC:
Chat rooms:


Private message:


AOL (I hate bloody AOL):


MSN (most excellent, considering who made it):


Console:
I have my windows free to float about my desktop. You can, however, have them stay in a single window, the console:


It's a useful window even if you don't use it for that, as it has this docking side-bit-thing (??) that lets you monitor each individual connection:


Connection Manager:
The unattractive innards of the program :), the connection manager is where you set up your accounts and passwords etc... you might never see this, but it's there nonetheless.

Trillian is an extraordinary program, and, whilst it can be a bit complex at first, once you figure out how it all works it's really very nice and simple to use. I highly recommend it, as it replaces adequately all functions of the individual programs and keeps everything together nicely, and with the skins available it looks far nicer than the original programs too. One niggle is that it does away with file transfer via the chat networks (ICQ/MSN/AOL and probably yahoo, I don't use it though) and uses solely IRC DCC file sending. Unfortunate if friends or contacts don't have IRC... of course, once they see the light and download Trillian there will be no problem!

I have so few complaints about this program, only that some settings and features aren't as obvious as they could be, and the removal of file transfer by ICQ etc is a bit annoying. Therefore, I will award the program 4 out of 5, although that last star could very easily be Trillian's in future releases.



Excellent!

mrplow, 17-09-01.

Trillian homepage.