How is the performance and mem usage compared to Pidgin? It looks less... efficient.

I like this software and use it daily. I hiave had very little problem with it. In fact I purchased it as I like it, it is much better than having 4 or 5 messengers on your desk top when this will take care of it all. Trillian Astra in my estimation is a very good product and those who knock it, either have no idea what they are talking about or have no idea how to use it. It is worth every penny and it seems to me, that too many in the computer world think everything is free..

I can't imagine how people like third party IMs' extremely busy, clutterred, non-standard, ugly horrible UIs.

I agree 100%, all those purdy things are just wh***s on memory, compatibility, stability, etc.

I'm using trillian daily since ... many years. I found Astra (trillian v4) as a very good piece of program: tons of settings, beautiful skins ... I'm using it on old and new computers, running Vista x64, XP32 and XP64 computers without any problem. For treworld, in "stand by mode", it takes around 5 to 10Mb in memory where Live messenger is around 35Mb (seen on windows XP64).

Omg. The design of this app looks really bloated. Do you need Core i7 processors to run this thing???

Sweet!

Scott, you have *got* to keep that "Actual Beta News!" pic and turn it into a series, like "Up-Front" and "What's Now; What's Next".

The pic should be flashing though. Like...*really* annoying. You know, epileptic-fit inducing.

Oh, and on-topic; I despise Trillian. I am sure this version sucks as much as every version before it.

...and before you all start telling me that maybe I should test it first, please let me respond with:

NO! Not a Chance in Hell you inbred, knee-biters!

I am very happy with my current feelings toward that application and do not see any need to make an effort to change them.

So there.

Well I'm certainly not going to tell you to try it. But I am going to say.. What the hell was the point of you even posting then if you've not tested the app and have no ground to base any conclusion on at all. All you're spouting now is prejudice. I'm guessing that half your nick there is at least correct, and I'm not talking about the "PC" half of it either :p

Ooh! Clever! Use my name to make the most *obvious* play on words you possibly can.

Wow..that's never been done before.

*laughing*

Chin-up, son. Eventually, once you figure this intarwebz thang out, you'll recognize sarcasm and humor when ya see it. Until then...just pretend *everything* you read is a joke. Like you. :)

And you still have nothing viable to say about the program.

For those who have not tried the program at all, there is one other point that has not been pointed out. You can revert the interface to the older style interface, which basically resembles the interface that everyone is accustomed to, instead of this newer interface which may not appeal to some. Personally I was not keen on the new interface and use the old interface instead.

In my years of using Trillian, I've never had it crash, never had any graphics problems or had any problems with any other programs that were related to using Trillian. Thus far with Astra, I have encountered only one problem, which may or may not be related to Astra. My Yahoo account seems to need me to every so often lot out of Yahoo and log back in before Astra can access Yahoo. I'm assuming that this is something that Yahoo has done and likely other multi-protocol IM programs are suffering from the same issue.

Other than that, Astra has been working rock solid for me and my PC is not like the latest top of the line either. It only rates a 1.0 on Vista, so you know it's the bottom of the line for Vista.

I've tried almost all the multi-protocol IM programs out there, but always end up coming back to Trillian, or now Astra. Most of them either lack the updates to keep up with the ever changing IM services, their protocols or changes, that they become useless. Some of them contain far too many bugs and cause the user more grief than usability.

Trillian, or Astra may not be perfect, but it is one of the more solid, if not the most solid multi-protocol IM client available today.

"And you still have nothing viable to say about the program."

Um...real quick: What part of:

"...and before you all start telling me that maybe I should test it first, please let me respond with:

NO! Not a Chance in Hell you inbred, knee-biters!"

...did you *not* comprehend? ;)

/me wonders how long it will take before he realizes I really don't care about IM programs in the least and am just having fun with him...

oddly enough, i agree to the letter. on both points.

Then as your name suggest, you're just a tool and wasting space and time here. Seems you're just a resident troll here and have nothing more to offer constructive than to hear yourself.

I thought the name of the site was "Beta News", not "PC_Tool's Playground".

if you really need to connect to multiple clients i suggest digsby. having used astra since it was an alpha i can tell you that it still is a disaster for multiple reasons ... but, the worst part is that the developers are unwilling to listen to most of the feedback from the community. digsby's developers on the other hand welcome the feedback.

using it still feels alienating, feels weird.
i want to like it but as i don't have the need to connect to different services, oddly enough i prefer MS's default product...

Awesome that it tries to install the ASK toolbar.

True. As with most programs nowadays, "extra" things try to be added. Having said that, you do have the option of un-checking the box for Ask toolbar. Most programs choose the opt-out method as opposed to the opt-in. What this means is that you need to look carefully at each screen. Personally, I prefer the opt-in but you deal with life as it comes.

I've been using Astra for a few months now on Vista myself. I personally have had no side effects. Then again, I don't use a lot of fluff programs either. I run a straight and clean as possible Vista here. I've had problems with Stardock applications in the past and not with Astra. So I'm not going to be too harsh on Astra for not working well with any Stardock apps, as many other programs also have issues with Stardock apps. In my mind, Stardock is the one who's done some unorthodox coding which doesn't sit well with everything else.

As for Comodo.. Wow, that sucker really digs into your system! Seems almost as scary as Norton's AV stuff, which in itself seems more like a Trojan and Virus all wrapped up in one. The idea of a *Firewall* that sinks it's teeth into your registry gives me chills. Can you imagine installing an older version of "Paint Shop Pro" under those conditions? The amount of registry entries PSP made and changed would likely keep you bashing on those security dialogs from Comodo for hours.

Myself, I don't think I would've pointed fingers at Astra for the issues you ran into, unless I had proof positive that Astra was to blame. I think pointing out the issues you ran into was fine, but suggesting without any knowledge or proof at all, that Astra was the culprit is bad reporting.

Garrett, I have done it...Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9, one of the programs I used during the Comodo test. And yep, you're right, quite a bash. Now, you can have the firewall suspend the notifications during the installation process (which is especially helpful when you're applying updates from Microsoft), unless you really want to know every step an installer may be taking. In which case, Comodo will oblige.

-SF "What do you want to do? What do you want to do? What do you wa...AAAGH!!!" 3

4 points:
1) You say "Then again, I don't use a lot of fluff programs either. I run a straight and clean as possible Vista here. I've had problems with Stardock applications in the past and not with Astra." Stardock apps are not fluff? I guess we have very different definitions of fluff.
2) You are critical of Mr. Fulton's comment on Astra by basically saying he hasn't broken down the code. But then you say "In my mind, Stardock is the one who's done some unorthodox coding which doesn't sit well with everything else." I don't think "In my mind" qualifies as breaking down the code so your statement, based on your own criteria with which you criticize the writer can also be applied to you. Now if and when you step out of your mind and actually break down the code then maybe you can say with a straight face "unorthodox coding".
3) Not saying anything good or bad about Comodo, I personally want a security program that warns me what is being installed or changed in the Registry. And god knows that most of these IM programs fill your registry with "fluff" and junk that isn't removed when you uninstall the program.
4) When PC_Tool posts like he did, that usually indicates that like a lot of us, we don't give a rats behind about IM programs- multi-protocol or not.

1. Stardock apps are fluff apps.

2. I point out that he makes an assumption and may have made a mistake. Do you have any data or experience to add to it or to either confirm his findings, or mine?

I'm not sure how you get what you get out of "Myself, I don't think I would've pointed fingers at Astra for the issues you ran into, unless I had proof positive that Astra was to blame. I think pointing out the issues you ran into was fine, but suggesting without any knowledge or proof at all, that Astra was the culprit is bad reporting."

Now look at what I wrote there and look at your twisted and convoluted analysis of what I said. Your analysis is twice the size of what I wrote, as well, what you tried to define my statement too isn't even close to what I said. At least what I said was actually related to the article, on topic, legitimate and I didn't need to fabricate a definition for what anyone said.

3. ... No more comments needed regarding Comodo.

4. If you don't give a hoot about it, then why even bother making a post?

ok..let's take your points one by one
1) first you say you don't use "fluff programs then you say Stardocks is a "fluff program so you need to get your story right.
2) If you haven't broken down the code with either then you have no basis to assert that Stardock apps are not the cause so the very thing you accuse the writer of you are guilty of also. Suggesting that another app is the culprit without proof is bad posting and more dumb than the writer because you accuse him of the exact same thing you are doing. What you said was not legitimate because you said "In my mind, Stardock is the one who's done some unorthodox coding which doesn't sit well with everything else." and yet provide no proof.
3) you brought Comodo into the discussion and made some comments again based on your idea and not some absolute proof.
4) You attack PC_tool which is fine..he's use to it but you are the one that needs to get off your high horse acting as if you are the final word. I have tried Trillian and other Ims and just don't like them but we have in this country something called freedom of speech and if someone attacks a writer and then contradicts themselves, you are fair game. If you don't like it then go back to your silly other posts sprinkled on the internet. This isn't PC_TOLL's playground and sometimes he makes good points and like all of us sometimes he doesn't but this isn't your playground either and if you can't take some heat then you need to get a life instead of fantasying about MZ. Gunn which I think was not really on topic or your comments about Wily. So grow up.

I'm not sure where you're getting your analysis of all this, but you're obviously reading a different book from the rest of us.

1. I said Stardock apps are fluff apps. What can't you understand about that?

2. It almost seems you're getting my point on number 2 now, but still haven't come to fruition with it yet. You'll get there soon enough.

3. I made no assertions regarding Comodo except that I dislike programs that dig so deep into my system. So here you're just making up something to add to your lengthy and repeated verbiage which has no bearing once so ever to any of this discussion.

4. I'm attacking PC_Tool?, merely pointing out the obvious. As to getting off the high horse, I think you've pointed out the wrong person for that. You seem to be riding rather high thus far here along with PC_Tool. Seems PC_Tool and maybe even you feel that you can just post anything you want here regardless if it's even related to topic at hand, as if you owned this place and that it was yours to do with as you see fit.

I'm fair game? I'm sorry, you make it sound as if this a vehicle for personal assaults.. I'm fair game for what?

I think you need to step back and take a look at things a bit better. You're getting further off the deep end than even PC_Tool did, as well, you seem to be getting angry about things. PC_Tool has even moved on, but you're still here, trying to make something of nothing.

Anyway, better luck next time, but I believe you'll have to find another target as there isn't one here.

Correction: No Token required - http://blog.ceruleanstudios.com/?p=462

garretthylltun I been using Comodo IS for 5-6 months now So far I love it. I have no virus what so ever just make sure download new 3.9 just make sure you don't installed the tool bar thats what I did. I found out this firewall used less ram and resources then any other firewall and antivirus I try out. I try Mcafee and Norton plus I try pctools took that out because CCC on ATI cards won't open. I hate when antivirus and firewall used up so much resources and ram. Sorry for little offtopic. As for new Trillian Astra I'd been using since the invited :) so far I love it no issues.

Don't get me wrong.. I'm not saying Comodo is bad. I just do not like programs that dig into my system too much. The reviews of Comodo over the internet are great. Do they offer the ability to not monitor the registry at all? All I want is the firewall itself, nothing else, no extra features, just a firewall.