RSSGoogle Talk Beta Scores High Marks
By Nate Mook | Published August 24, 2005, 2:28 PM
The reviews are in and the first beta release of Google Talk is receiving high marks from users. Although some are bothered by the client's current lack of features, many find the 900KB Google Talk refreshingly simple. Below is a selection of reviews from BetaNews readers.
Awesome program! Does have a ways to go to be a complete IM system but this is a great first release. The voice chat works amazingly well and it's so easy to use! - reets
The application is in every essence, a messenger client. And by messenger I mean you can either type or talk to people in real time. There are, no extras. I don't like referring to 'bloat', since it can mean many things. That's an advantage as well as a disadvantage for this program. While simplicity is an achievement in excellence (and will probably get this client to the height of popularity) there are key 'features' not visible in the beta. - Neoprimal
I have to admit that this is a very slim featured beast we're dealing with. But look at the system resources it takes up. 2 to 4 megs of ram, and the highest I've seen it was at 6 during a voice conversation with my buddy.
It does exactly what I need it to. No advertisements, no being forced to look at someone's retarded avatar. No profiles for all your teenage bickering. The only main gripe if that we need more complex 'away' system. And I'd like to customize my font. Since Google will probably release those features sooner or later, I might as well not complain. For being a beta, this is a 4.
Bottom Line: Great to use alongside your favorite messenger - for now. Once we see some rich features in the future, this will be a messenger to really talk about. The voice quality is really crisp and fast, even for my 56k. Truly excellent. - eclipsingdivinity
Decent start but lacks many simple features that are almost required today, such as file sharing and buddy list groups. It will be interesting to follow, but the current UI is kind of limiting so, to add more features, they may have to change it. - bangbang023
It is pretty elegant, but it just does not have enough of features we are used to - buddy info, fonts, chat, file transfer, etc. Also, after several attempts I could not get the audio working on the calls. Gmail integration is somewhat useful, or at least it will be if this program catches on. All in all, a reasonable beta. - compm375
Simple, intuitive functionality. It's difficult to make software this beautiful and simple. It's much easier to make a complicated, hideous kludge with wizards out the wazoo like Microsoft does. Googlers are the zen masters of software design. - GeorgeSantayana
For a first release it's fab. Does everything it should nicely. I look forward to Google implementing other features such as file sending, and multi-person conversations/conferences in a similar lightweight way! - DiGiTaLFX
Very nice software... this has a lot of potential. Simplicity and functionality both at the same time. I'm sure there's more to come. - theheff
this is a very slim instant messaging client but it still lacks important features like able to customize font and profile etc. but overall this is very great and the sound quality is excellent for the voice chat.
Score: 0
nice! very simple and fast. I'm sure msn messenger 1 wasn't even close to this. The gmail integration is great. It's just another great thing from Google. Take that microsoft!
Score: 0
OMG this is like the coolest ever! Another fine release by my mentor Google....wrong!
All these reviews crack me up. People jump off the Google bus. This program is useless for the time being, if MS released this same POS, not one person would say, "wow, great first release!" It would be "wow, another screw up by MS."
I won't lie, I use this too, but my feedback won't be positive until I see something over the top.
To me this product seems to be something Google gave to Compton High School as a class product!
Score: 0
You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't agree. There are reasons for people liking this program:
1. It has a very simple, clean interface.
2. NO ADS!
3. It automatically has your Gmail contacts available as a friends list.
4. The voice calling works very well, and is extremely simple to use.
5. It is NOT a resource hog.
6. They used an open source protocol allowing for inter-network IMing (hopefully) in the future.
7. It's still a beta, and they will be adding features. I like it as is, but it will get better.
Look past the initial response of "that's all?" and you will begin to see that it really is a good program. Or at least, that's what I think will happen if you give it a chance.
**EDIT**
why can't I spell?
Score: 0
It's great. But other people's 'bloat' is my fun! LOL. I like smileys and audibles and all that garbage, so I'm hoping they implement some variety of that. For a long time, I've never understood why MS, Yahoo, AIM and the like didn't make 2 clients.....1 client for those who like that stuff, and another with all of it ripped out; shouldn't be too hard to do.
In any case, for now - I'm sticking with it, telling people about it and hoping it will grow.
Score: 0
Perhaps they'll include a plugin system in a future version for things like that. Google seem to like their plugins.
Score: 0
ms do. windows messenger for simplicity and msn messenger for bloat!
Score: 0
Wow! I got mentioned in a BetaNews article :D
Score: 0
This release is ok, in comparison with Google Notifier. ;) The GUI is nice and simple. It's better simple than advanced with flaws. *looks into the direction of msn avatar hacks*
I think emoticons would just be overkill. The only feature I'd like to see added is to have a popup window, much like the current Message window, to open when you click Email in the Message window. Simple formatting, like Bold/Italic/Underline would be nifty in this.
As for 0wning Skype, Google has a fair few users to wh*** this application to but Skype's abbility to call peoples mobiles/housephones/workphones makes it that little bit better.
Score: 0
not sure about italics and underline but *something* makes it bold i hear
Score: 0
RE: Google Talk - OMG - everybody duck! The giantslayer is going after SKYPE! Run AWAY!! hehe - As usual Google not only offers a superb (albeit not feature-rich) product right out of the box but they trump Skype and send The Boys from Redmond scurrying. MS is "ready" with "Office Communicator" but it's not for the masses only for Enterprise users.
It boggles the mind to consider what the Google Geeks might offer us next. Perhaps something in the way of RFID human tracking via sub-dermal injection?
Google Uber Alles! All Hail Google
Score: 0
Great. Seems that Google really know how to program without bloating the product.
I really like every google product I tried: Google Earth rules
Google desktop surprised me (faster that apple spotlight!)
And now a messenger not spyware/bloated/ad-infected.
But they really need to port their software to other plataforms (Mac OS,*nix maybe, Mac OS X and.. did I say Tiger Mac OS?)
Score: 0
I remove Google Desktop because it too ligth in feature. All other competitors do it better than Google. Same for GDS 2 is the same, just a pack of bad applications, nothing innovative, others did it before and better
I have YM and MSN IM, could not remove MSN IM, but never used it. MSN IM have good look but no offline message like YM
Currently I was mainly using FireFox, I like it's extension and plug-in, but recently started thinking that I wasted too much time to try different extensions: seeking, reading, installing/reinstalling, ect. May be when IE7 is out I'm switch back. Time is precious, it is time not to be early adopter.
Score: 0
I would love to see video chat added to this program. Other than that I don't think there are many features it needs. I don't need silly avatars or profiles, stock quotes and a built in search bar. I like it...low overhead, stable (so far), and only 2 files in my program files, the executable and the uninstaller. How simple is that? I hear people saying we would bash AOL or MSN for releasing such a client, but if this was their BETA client, I would have been VERY pleased. Keep it about the communication. Text, voice, video. No ads, no frills. Just simple, reliable communication is all I want. I just can't wait for the trillian jabber plugin to be updated to support voice.
Score: 0
Downloaded it.... Whoopy. Its a chat client with voice. Google is fast becoming the empire that everyone loves to hate...
Score: 0
It's amazing that when Google releases an app, even one as ugly and limited as Talk, people praise Google and the app. If Microsoft or AOL released this client, these same people would have bashed it and the respective company to no end.
Score: 0
Someone calls it IM of the Stone Age.
Score: 0
...Others call it 'Beta'.
Score: 0
ROFL. Think about that phrase: IM of the Stone Age.
That would be pretty effing advanced!!
Score: 0
I like the fact that it does only does what it needs to do. Since i run a messenger client all the time, I want it to use a minimum of system resources. Talk Does It, none of of the others get even close.
I do think it could use a couple extra features though, multi chat, and file send. But keep it simple and small.
Score: 0
I can not help but think that if Microsoft released this exact program with their name on it, it wouldn't be received this well :)
I think Google Talk was a success amongst some people before it was released, or before anyone even knew it would be developed :)
Score: 0
Yup. I'm 100% sure of it.
...but regardless, it is a nice program.
Score: 0
Microsoft would never release this exact program, though.
Google is using an open, standard protocol and allowing any other IM client using Jabber to interoperate. That's not Microsoft's style at all.
Score: 0
so basically the only thing you have to do to get high marks at betanews is to release a featureless program with no ads under the google name? Are you guys smoking crack or what?
Score: 0
"featureless"?
You apparently haven't even tried the program.
Score: 0
yeah check my post on the GT topic posted before this one a day ago, i listed the features
Score: 0
Nice and simple, but I hate that it creates *yet another* IM service that I'm going to have to be subscribed to. Why not integrate AIM, Yahoo, etc so it is more like Trillian?
Score: 0
another IM service?
jabber has been around for years but google have made it better if you want a program like trillian use trillian!
as for the program it rocks!
although im probably blinded by the word google!
lol
Score: 0
Google doesn't want to make the program larger than it needs to be. Google Talk uses up just 7MB of memory on my PC which is considerably low. I'm sure trillian takes up more memory.
But the interface is easy to use, it allows for easy chat, e-mail, and voice to other google chat users. What I am trying to say is google IS greedy and will not spread the wealth to AIM, Yahoo, and MSN.
Why include compatibilty with others if it will make your program larger, and somewhat more complex? Google does not want people to use other products besides their's.
Google is the new microsoft. King on the internet.
Score: 0
maybe webcam support too
Score: 0
Laundry Machine support would be nice, as well.
Score: 0
excellent
what a real messenger should be "AN INSTANT MESSENGER" and not a bloatware
just a few more minor additions to it like JamieAzure said, file transfer & multiple conferencing would not be bad though in the future but hey it's beta and it just got released
Score: 0
WOW, nice client.. clean simple fast and light. Only 2 features I'd add would be file transfers and conferencing with multiple people in a single conversation.
Score: 0
This is a BIG step in the right direction. Google'
s use of the open-source Jabber protocol as the underlying engine is good news for interoperability everywhere. For those of you unsure of the benefits of an open-source architecture to Google Talk, check this link :
http://www.jabber.org/about/overview.shtml
Score: 0
This is only the begining...I'm sure theres much more to come.
Score: 0