How is Skype for instant messaging?

I have no plans to make phone calls or use a webcam with Skype, at least not yet, but my UK boyfriend said it has an instant messenger feature as well.  There are times when we've been shooting emails back and forth in real time, but instant messenger would be better. 

I've used Yahoo and I think AOL or MSN in the past and it really seemed to slow down my computer and add all sorts of toolbars and spam and junk.  How is Skype compared to these others?

we would only use the IM feature if for some reason the phone call dropped or we wanted to tell the other person something without a housemate hearing it. It seemed to work just as well as the other types of IM out there. I don't recall Skype adding any sort of spam to my computer. It's simple to use it for calls and since your boyfriend has Skype too, it would be free.

I use Skype messaging to talk to my family in the US.  It works well, IMO, and doesn't add anything to your computer.  I much prefer it over AIM, which really seems to slow down other applications. 

I much prefer it over AIM, which really seems to slow down other applications. 

I'm glad you said that.  I thought maybe it was just my computer.  I think I will try Skype then.  Thanks!

I've heard bad things about the phone quality from Skype, which is why I'm not interested in using it.  He just started using Zerop to call me, mentioned on another thread, which is only 4p per CALL of any length!

Yes, the phone quality is not great at times, which can be a bit frustrating. Glad you found an alternative you're happy with!

I hated Skype's "phone call" function but it's fine for the instant message feature.

In the calls I found that the time between the person speaking and their voice reaching you could be as long as a couple of seconds, plus the connection kept breaking. That was at 5,000 miles distant, so I put it down to that.

But then I used it with a friend 10 miles away -- and it was just as bad! So I'm not too impressed with Skype calls.

Tim and I use Skype for IMing and phone calling. We'll use IMs when we are too busy to get on the phone or are doing other things at the computer or to pass links back and forth.

I really like it compared to the other chat programs out there - mostly because it's lesser known and I don't get random IMs on it!

*edited to add* I've been using Skype to talk to Tim on the phone for the past three years, and we barely have any issues with it, unless one of us is having a "slow net" day. If you are on dial-up or have an older computer, you might have issues with it lagging or not working at all, though.

i've even used Skype-to-Go to call him from my US Mobile and it just sounds like a normal mobile phone call to us.

We LIVED on Skype for a few years. The lags and drops got better over time (we used several VOIP services before that...believe me, there was a real evolution).

The IM feature kind of made me cranky, but only because he always seemed to hit it when I was in the middle of something. 

On the call function, I still found it lagging on fast speed broadband, on a brand new laptop with very contemporary technical specs, here in the UK, talking to a friend just miles away -- the few seconds time lag still felt like Houston talking to Neil Armstrong! 

I don't know, I'm not a fan of what I've experienced of Skype, although when it was all I had that was free while still in the US talking to the UK, I put up with it.

Skype is my new best friend! We use Skype for webchat more then anything.  I do use it to send him (he is in the UK) text messages since it is .09 cents per text vs .35 from my cell phone.

We prefer google chat via igoogle.com or the download program over Skype chat.  Just my 2cents.

How I see it anyway you can "talk" is great.

Good luck!

My husband and I use Skype for our everyday IMing while he's at work, and I'm really happy with it.  I've been using it for about five years and have had no issues with spam, speed or anything, really.

I've never had trouble with time lag on Skype, but the calls are dropped really frequently, and on some computers I had trouble with sound quality.  On my mother's computer, you hear about every fifth word when calling, but the IM works a treat. 

Skype IM works fine for us,about the same as trillian. We mostly used the call feature when we were apart.  No real problems with that once I had digital cable and wasn't on dialup, preferred it to yahoo chat.

For IMing, I think Google Chat is the best of the bunch. Plus it's (kind of) integrated with Google mail, which is nice if you happen to have a GMail account.

As for Skype, it was a transatlantic godsend for me, despite the call quality and dropped calls. Can't complain too much about free video phone calls!

I've used skype as my only instant messenger and telephone for three years now, and I cannot say enough good things about it.  I've always found it to be reliable and the chat logs were even helpful when I did my visa application.  Usually when people have call quality issues, it's because their connection is lousy - not because Skype is.  For sound issues, people should check their headset quality.  It's not really very good if you're shouting into a webcam, but nothing is.

Also, with Skype in and Skype out, you can actually set up a "local" phone number for your family at home, so they can use a regular phone to ring your computer overseas without paying long distance charges.  That's pretty cool.