How to connect to a Ichat user from a PC

[Grant66]

Just been doing a search on google but can't find an answer:

Can I talk to somebody using IChat (obviously on a mac) using a windows based chat client i.e. MSN

All the hits on google tell me how you can contact MSN from IChat but not the otherway round.

Do I need to install a new client (like fire) or can I get MSN to do it?

[TEC]

No idea about ichat or msn but Skype does work on both

[yorkie_chris]

pidgin messenger app might have it

[SoulKiss]

Tell them to get a proper chat proggie - like IRC :p

Pidgin supports Bonjour, which I believe is an earlier version of iChat, but still compatible (I think, taken from the 5 mins I looked into it on Google)

[Grant66]

Thanks for the responses, the mac user at the other end knows absolutely nothing about computers. I did find some info on how to add MSN to ichat via a 3rd part add-on but it was beyond their capabilities. Clicking on an icon is only just within their capabilities mind.

Anyway think I've got it sorted by using AIM, not tested it yet though but it appears to accept .mac user names as buddies. arghh Americanisms. did find pidgin but it suggested web-cams weren't supported when connecting to ichat.

[flymo]

As far as I know the only other client you can video call or chat to with iChat is AIM. Skype is the best bet as it can be used on pretty much any platform, iPhone included.

Skype has excellent audio quality, probably the best I've used, brilliant video call capability and more recently a 'share my screen' option for remote support. PC to PC (or Mac) is free.

[Sean_C]

As far as I know the only other client you can video call or chat to with iChat is AIM. Skype is the best bet as it can be used on pretty much any platform, iPhone included.

Skype has excellent audio quality, probably the best I've used, brilliant video call capability and more recently a 'share my screen' option for remote support. PC to PC (or Mac) is free.

+1 for Skype, useful program it is. MSN is no good on mac as it doesn't allow webcam/ mics etc.

[wyrdness]

Tell them to get a proper chat proggie - like IRC :p

Pidgin supports Bonjour, which I believe is an earlier version of iChat, but still compatible (I think, taken from the 5 mins I looked into it on Google)

No, Bonjour is zeroconf network configuration.

iChat supports the Jabber protocol, so it will talk to Jabba servers, such as Google Talk. There's a page here on using it with MSN, but I've never tried, as I feel the same way about anything Microsoft as SK does about Apple.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060918092954170

[TheOnlyNemesis]

pidgin messenger app might have it

+1 what i was gonna say