[Adium-devl] Computerworld Inquiry

[Ryan Govostes]

On Jan 4, 2009, at 12:07 AM, Eric Richie wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
> A writer from Computerworld contacted me about including us in an  
> article about all in one messengers.  I gave him a few brief  
> responses to get him started but I told him I'd get some responses  
> from the rest of you and get back to him with more.
>
> His questions:
>
> 1. Generally, do you know where your users use your messenger the most
> -- in the office or at home?

Look at the Sparkle data around times when people typically have work  
off (New Years', Christmas, Easter, President's day, etc). This might  
give a hint.

> 2. What features would you say your messenger has (or will have) that
> makes it ideal for an office-use environment?

Bonjour support. I worked in an office for a few days where everyone  
was on Bonjour. When I logged in I just showed up on everyone's buddy  
list, without having to exchange screennames with a dozen people.

> 3. Any technical advice you would have for those who are considering
> using your messenger in an office environment? (For example, security
> precautions.)

Mac OS X Server has a built-in Jabber server, which Adium can be  
configured to connect to. I don't know whether they use SSL, but if  
so, that will encrypt conversations. Otherwise, we support Off-the- 
Record, a feature that encrypts messages sent over otherwise  
unencrypted channels like AIM.

> 4. Finally, what would you say sets your messenger apart from the
> other all-in-one messengers? Why should people use yours first and
> foremost?

We're religious about usability. Adium fits in with the system but  
allows a lot of customization (like how the message windows look). At  
the same time, everyone on the team stresses over every change that  
might hinder the user experience.

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