MSN Messenger (MM)
is in many ways similar to ICQ or the AOL Instant Messenger, so if you
are familiar with either of those tools you will find the MM easy to use.
Briefly, here's how the MM
works: You download and install it from the Microsoft site. In the process,
you need to sign up for a free "Passport" unless you have a Hotmail e-mail
account already. From now on, every time you go online, your MM will start
running unless you tell it otherwise. You can now add Passport/Hotmail
addresses of friends or colleagues to the MM. If you have the MM installed
as well, you will be notified whenever they come online. You can send them
an immediate message.
To download and
install the MM, please go to http://messenger.msn.com
which
will guide you through the two processes. (Please do so now). Download
the program into a folder on your computer this week. (I would suggest
that you create a "downloads" folder to store all the programs that you
download in this class for easy reference). Once you have downloaded the
program into the folder, please be sure to open the file and click on the
icon labelled "mmssetup" in the folder that contains the program in order
to install it. Follow the step-by-step instructions that you see on the
screen. Once you have installed it, the main window will look something
like this (You will not have any names "online" nor "not online" if you
are using the MM for the first time):
To add a classmate, click
"Add" and then enter their e-mail address (they will need to have signed
up for a Passport or have a Hotmail e-mail address as well). You will then
be notified whenever that person comes online (as long as they also have
the MM installed). Please add me to your list now - click "Add" and put
in my email address at fpawan@indiana.edu. When you have done so, please
send me an instant message - click on "Send", then choose "fpawan" and
choose "Message". Next time I come online I will reply to your message
to let you know that we are connected. You can read the message next time
YOU come online! If we are both online and
have our MM open at the same time, this will happen immediately.