What to use instead of AOL Instant Messenger
 

Now that Open Office 2 is released and appears stable, I am going to cut my whole household over to Linux. Half the family spend 90% of the time on AOL instant messenger. I need them to be happy with using a new Im client, but don't know which one matches AOL the best. Any suggestions?:rolleyes: I think they will be happy with Open Office.

Gaim is probably the most commonly-used IM client. It supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber, and a dozen other protocols. Gaim comes with most if not all Linux distros. There are also many other free software IM clients around, like Kopete in KDE. Also, AOL does make a version of its AIM client for Linux, but it is garbage.

gaim is great, and will remind them enough of AOL's AIM that they should be plenty happy with it.

Another vote for Gaim

Yet another for Gaim, it's much better than even Windows AIM, in my opinion, and they have a new release planned soon that will add many new features.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like GAIM it is. I will show them this thread if they express doubt :)