The default ‘user-is-online’, ‘message-sent’, and ‘message-received’ sounds were subtle, distinctive, hard-to-miss, and easy-to-ignore. I’ve always thought the audio in Messenger 4.x was some of the best audio design in any application. I’ve since learned that you can turn this off by un-checking the “ Display MSN Today when Messenger signs in” option still totally unacceptable. This means a pop-up ad every time you boot your computer totally unacceptable. Consider that for most MSN Messenger users, the program loads at start-up. However, I didn’t realize how bad it was until Messenger 5.0 gave me pop-up advertising when it loads ( screenshot). I plan to tell young people this when I get old. I’m not using a shared computer, but this did exactly what I wanted.Įveryone knows the world is going to hell – old people have been telling us this for centuries. In 5.0, I didn’t think it was possible until I stumbled across an obscure setting in the Privacy tab (?) called “ This is a shared computer so don’t display my tabs“. Go to the Tools menu, and toggle the Show Tabs option. In 4.x, turning off the annoying tabs (that I presume no-one uses) was easy. Tabs that are really hard to eliminate.When Messenger 5.0 became available, I updated. I would have switched completely, but the lack of an archive of messages was a deal breaker.

I still use ICQ primarily, but sneaking in as a default install with XP, MSN Messenger was slowing winning me over. It started with ICQ, and though it was mostly a novelty at the time, it was clear that this was a major shift in online communications. I’ve been a long-time user of instant messaging. Today we have a lesson in how to screw up a good thing. Acts of Volition What’s wrong with MSN Messenger 5.0 Novemby Steven Garrity

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