Instant Message, Direct Message, Group Text Chat, and Bonjour

With iChat text messaging, you can communicate with others in four different ways: Instant Messages, Direct Messages, Group Chats, and Bonjour. Each method is different from the others and each has its own advantages.

An Instant Message opens a small window in which you can "talk" back and forth with one other person, and your talk is private (unless someone is looking over your shoulder). You must be connected to the Internet.

The easiest way to start a text Instant Message is to double-click a buddy in the Buddy List.

To see information about a buddy as you chat: From the View menu choose "Show Chat Participants." A drawer slides open (shown on the next page). Click the buddy name, then from the Buddies menu choose "Get Info." See page 491.

A Direct Message looks just like an Instant Message and is even more private. Instant Messages go through a central messaging server on the Internet, while a Direct Message goes directly to one other person's computer, bypassing the central server. A Direct Message is between two peopleyou cannot invite anyone else to join you. Some network or firewall security settings will not allow Direct Messages to be sent or delivered. You must be connected to the Internet.

When a web address is typed into an iChat message, it becomes an active link to that web page.

A Group Chat is a public "room" where you can invite any number of people. These people might be spread all over the world, but you can all gab together. People can come and go as they please and the room stays open until the last person leaves. You can name the Group Chat, allowing anyone who knows the chat name to join in. You must be connected to the Internet. Learn more about groups on pages 498501.

A Bonjour message does not go through the Internetit goes through your local network directly to another computer on the same network. Bonjour automatically detects and connects other computers on your local network. You do not have to be connected to the Internet to send Bonjour messages or to transfer files to another computer. See pages 518520 for details about Bonjour.

To see who's available on your local network, press Command 2 to open this Bonjour window. Select a name and click the Text Chat button (circled above) to send a text message.