I have a proxy server set up on a windows machine running PPPShar(since it was easy and sharing 56k with that is pretty temporary) and I can't seem to get GAIM to connect to the server. I edit the account to connect to 192.168.0.1 which is what the winblowz ip address that my web browsers work perfectly with. I don't know if I am supposed to write it like http://192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.1 and which I choose for the type of proxy or the port that goes with the socks settings. I have no username or pass to access the proxy so I left those blank. After taking MANY shots in the dark as to how to do it I decided to ask(I ask here cause it seems more of a net config problem).

i dont think there is a support for yahoo anymnore in gaim. msn is only allowing secure connections (ssl). aol works.

dont know if it is worth it to go with gaim.

and if ur doing http proxy, u dont write "http://" in fron of the address. the ports are normally the tcp one, 80.

alternately, you can set up the "HTTP_PROXY" env variable in bash or whatever it is u use.

Which would you suggest then? I don't use the other clients anymore really, but I'm sure my friends would like it if I signed onto them more often

well, yahoo (if im right) wont allow 3rd party clients (i think the gaim guys are lookin to fix it ?), but they do have clients for linux on messenger.yahoo.com (im using the debian one - no issues).
for msn, i use amsn - it exactly the same as msn, and in cases better (but no cam support).
theres even linux aim.