I don't spend more time using Microsoft Windows than I have to, so I'll admit to not keeping up with what's new. I do have a .NET Passport (I'm still not entirely clear what .NET is) which I used to access my Hotmail account, and to log in to Windows Messenger from Windows XP, or MSN Messenger from Mac OS X. So why would I want to install MSN Messenger on my PC?
Not that more confusion was necessary, but apparently the exploited Windows Messenger Service is not related to the .NET Messenger Service or Windows Messenger. Furthermore, it would seem that I can use .NET services without actually installing something called the Microsoft .NET Framework that appears in Windows Update. More to the point, why is it seemingly so hard to find basic information about the differences between MSN Messenger (v7) and Windows Messenger (v4.7)? I tried several Google queries before I got anywhere, and none of the useful results were from Microsoft. As far as I can tell:
- both do text IM, voice, and video (PC to PC anyway);
- both require a .NET Passport (or Microsoft Passport, or just Passport as it seems to be known now);
- either works with Windows XP (although Windows Messenger requires it);
- MSN Messenger is adware (see screenshot), while Windows Messenger is ad-free.
A Microsoft table on Windows accessibility features lists MSN Messenger as a consumer product, and Windows Messenger as a business product. So I think we are talking about two IM clients that both use the .NET Messenger Service but are targeted at different users. Am I alone in my confusion?
Interestingly, running both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger on the same PC allows you keep two MSN/ Hotmail/ Passport/ whatever accounts signed in simultaneously to receive messages:
Update: A little more digging, and I did find something "official" on the subject of differences.
According to this downloadable Word document, Windows Messenger vs. MSN Messenger: What is the difference?:
- Windows Messenger is business-orientated and MSN Messenger consumer-orientated;
- both have similar features such as whiteboard, file transfer, voice and video;
- Windows Messenger can additionally connect via the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 server (whatever that mouthful is; I've heard of Exchange servers...), whereas MSN Messenger is limited to the public MSN .NET Messenger Service;
- communications with Windows Messenger are encrypted (but they are talking about v5.1, my "up-to-date" Windows XP installation was still at 4.7, but I found 5.1 for download from the Microsoft Download Center);
- both client applications can co-exist on the same desktop computer without any application conflict issues.
Now take this short quiz. Are you the type of person who is most likely to make use of:
- Remote Assistance to offer virtual "on-site" support to your XP-using parents 12,000 miles away?, or:
- Play a Game... (Actions menu) or buy various "express yourself" options such as backgrounds, avatars, emoticons, etc?
If you chose the second option, see here for a typically biased review :-)
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