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The Bottom Line

After eight months of use, Facebook Chat is no better than it was the day it was rolled out to Facebook social networking users.

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Pros

• Facebook Chat's embedded, no download experience makes it more accessable than MySpaceIM

Cons

• The "red box of death" is a constant in using the Facebook Chat client.

Description

• Facebook Chat features an embedded IM chat experience, no download necessary.

• IM Chats can be popped-out into their own browser window for easier viewing of the Facebook social network.
  
• Fun Facebook emoticons are plentiful in this surprisingly simple IM client.
  

Guide Review - Facebook: Worst IM of 2008

When I first heard plans for Facebook Chat, I was excited. An embedded, already there, no download IM client for Facebook users, a first for a social networking site, sounded great compared to the then-lifeless client MySpace was hawking.

Since April 2008, however, I've been wondering why the better of the top two U.S. social networks would release a client that made it look so bad.

Despite having a certain novelty in its simple, easy-to-use platform when it works, Facebook Chat has actually come to be known as the chief complaint on the site, spawning more than one hate group against the IM. (Link requires a Facebook account.)

On the first day, I urged readers not to get too ahead of hating this client. After all, not every IM can come off the line without a few kinks to fix.

But, after a season shy of Facebook Chat's first year of life, I urge Facebook developers to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to fix the "red box of death" and the on again, off again nature of what was supposed to be the kingmaker of social networking IMs.

The fact that I jump on and halfway through a decent conversation am suddenly slammed against a big red block which tells me my friend signed off (although I know he or she really did not) is one of the most frustrating things I have ever witnessed in all my years on the Internet.

Likewise, to find at least once a week that the Facebook Chat client is down for several hours at a time doesn't look too good for Facebook.

As one reader and Facebook Chat user put it, "maybe its time they put out or shut up. We are here, we bring them the advertising revenue, can't they fix their...IM?"

Perhaps the New Year's Resolution for my designated Worst IM of 2008 should be this: Fix it or quit it.

Facebook, we really love you, but your chat is wearing us thin. Help.

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